#SmearForSmear raising awareness of the importance of attending #smeartests. Nominate your friends & support @JoTrust pic.twitter.com/bIT45jXeg2
— SmearForSmear.com (@SmearForSmear) January 25, 2015
Jo’s Trust has re-launched the smeared lipstick selfie campaign for North East women to be tested for cervical cancer.
The selfie campaign is part of Cervical Cancer Week and is to raise awareness from 24 to 30 January.
Robert Music, chief executive at Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, said: “Cervical cancer is a preventable disease and we cannot afford for incidences to keep rising.
“It is a matter of urgency that we see positive actions to turn around the downward trend in cervical screening uptake.”
The trust is the only UK charity dedicated to women and their families affected by cervical cancer and cervical abnormalities.
It offers a support group in Newcastle to meet other women to share information, experiences and offer support to others.
Mr Music: “The 2015 campaign resonated with women at the start of the screening programme and in its first year also drove more women than ever to use our support services and online information.
“By encouraging women to attend cervical screening, it has the potential to save countless lives and ultimately contribute to eradicating this largely preventative and hugely devastating disease.”
According to Cancer Research UK Cervical, cancer is the second most common cancer for women under the age of 35.
More than three million, women aged between 25 and 64, were screened in 2015.
Joanne Smith, founder of North East charity FACT, said: “We all need to talk more about all cancers, including cervical cancer.
“We need to be educated about cancers, their signs & symptoms, screening processes, treatments and outcomes.
“Knowledge and understanding is key to encouraging the take-up of screening.”
North East Charity FACT works to support people affected by cancer.
Celebrities such as Kara Tointon, Lauren Pope and Lacey Turner have already taken part in the selfie campaign.
To join the campaign you just need to follow three steps: apply your lipstick, smear your lipstick and take your #SmearForSmear Selfie and then share your selfie and nominate a friend with the hashtag.