SUPPORT CERVICAL CANCER PREVENTION WEEK - GIDLEY

12.00.00am GMT Thu 24th Jan 2008

Local MP and Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Minister, Sandra Gidley has thrown her weight behind European Cervical Cancer Prevention Week, which aims to raise awareness of all aspects of cervical cancer.

Sandra, who is also vice-Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Cancer has urged her colleagues from all parties to shown their support by joining her in signing an Early Day Motion (House of Commons motion) and the "STOP Cervical Cancer Petition" online.

Commenting from Westminster today, Sandra said:

"Over two thousand new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed in the UK each year.

"Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable kinds of cancer and each woman has a role to play in ensuring that she keeps herself healthy and out of danger in this regard.

"A lot of the problem lies in confusion or ignorance of the disease and the campaign being run by the European Cervical Cancer Prevention aims to inform women about the actions they can take to protect themselves."

Cervical cancer is caused by a common virus, the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), which is transmitted through sexual intercourse or intimate skin-to-skin genital contact.

"It is very common - in fact up to 80 per cent of women will come into contact with the virus at some point in their lifetime" added Sandra.

"I urge all women in Southampton and Hampshire to regularly attend their GPs for smear tests, and to help raise awareness by signing the petition online at www.cervicalcancerpetition.eu."

ENDS