BBC: "At-home cervical screening tests offered in England" (implications for PwME)

Sasha

Sasha

Senior Member (Voting Rights)
The upcoming January roll-out of home test-kits for cervical screening has just been announced, and it's interesting that a PwME was chosen as the person to feature in the BBC's coverage of the story, as a person who finds it impossible to go for screening in a clinic:

BBC said:
Hazel Stinson, 49, from Kent, suffers from chronic fatigue syndrome and was last able to visit the GP for a cervical screening six years ago.

She says she is "absolutely thrilled" that at-home testing is being rolled out across England.

"This will mean that I and millions of other people just like me will be able to have the test when otherwise they might not be able to do it," she added.

Ms Stinson said as someone with chronic fatigue, which is also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis or ME, "the most important thing is to advocate for yourself".

She says she has always been left "feeling fearful" that her inability to attend the GP regularly for tests like cervical screening could really affect her health.

"I'm unwell enough as it is - I really don't want anything else on top of this," she explained.
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Big thumbs up for Hazel Stinson for giving a clear account of her problem in accessing healthcare. (Pity the BBC made the 'chronic fatigue' slip-up.)

I think being able to home-test for all sorts of things is hugely important for PwME and I wish that more home-testing for the sort of things you'd have to go to a clinic for was more widely available.

I'm wondering what other test are in the pipeline, or that researchers should be aiming to produce.
 
Good news. There’s so much that could be made more accessible. Which would work for people with many different conditions, and just convenience for others.

And could even be cheaper to deliver! (I heard on a programme a little while back this is why there’s been an increase in at home things in parts of the US, insurance companies realised it was cheaper to deliver basic tests and even treatments in people’s homes).
 
Sasha said:
The upcoming January roll-out of home test-kits for cervical screening has just been announced, and it's interesting that a PwME was chosen as the person to feature in the BBC's coverage of the story, as a person who finds it impossible to go for screening in a clinic:



Big thumbs up for Hazel Stinson for giving a clear account of her problem in accessing healthcare. (Pity the BBC made the 'chronic fatigue' slip-up.)

I think being able to home-test for all sorts of things is hugely important for PwME and I wish that more home-testing for the sort of things you'd have to go to a clinic for was more widely available.

I'm wondering what other test are in the pipeline, or that researchers should be aiming to produce.
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When I looked up a few weeks ago there aren’t many illnesses where a young or old person is too weak to leave the house on a long term basis, so i'm not surprised that the bbc found a CFS patient, even if it hasn't decided whether it's in our heads or not.
 
Ooh, that sounds good. Presumably it's a different way of testing too.

I haven't been screened for 25 years because it's agony. It hurt so much last time that I was sick, and they hadn't even managed to find my cervix to do the screening! The "some people find it uncomfortable" line has always been infuriating for those with retrograde uterus, who leave the room shaking and crying from the pain.
 
Kitty said:
Ooh, that sounds good. Presumably it's a different way of testing too.

I haven't been screened for 25 years because it's agony. It hurt so much last time that I was sick, and they hadn't even managed to find my cervix to do the screening! The "some people find it uncomfortable" line has always been infuriating for those with retrograde uterus, who leave the room shaking and crying from the pain.
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I'm so sorry to hear about that, Kitty! What horrible agony.

Yes, the new thing is basically an extra-long Q-tip, as I understand it. :thumbup:
 
Thank you! The worst thing about it is that, as usual, people don't believe you.

When I was in my 20s we had a practice nurse who experienced it herself, and she was brilliant. She'd use a tiny speculum, which made her job harder but was less painful for me. The rest seemed to think I was making it up, or that it was just stress.

I've looked up the test now, and they just check for presence of the virus in the vagina. Anyone found to have it would still need a cervical smear, but it means people who test negative don't have to go through it unnecessarily. I'd put up with it if there was actual cause for concern!

It's only available to women younger than me, but I'll ask anyway next year. There might be exceptions for people who've been unable to have standard test.
 
I stopped having tests before I got ME, I think.

The first test I had I was asked whether I was a virgin because I was so tense. I should have replied that no, but my boyfriend didn't have a cold metal dick with a sharp object on the end!

I subsequently drank a fair quantity of alcohol before going, to numb the pain.
 
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I had precancerous cells (dysplasia) in the early 80s and was treated with laser surgery. I passed out during the biopsy. Glad they caught it early because I went every year. My doctor uses a brush and I still need to be screened every 2 years and made a 'priority patient' for appointments.

I hope the kit includes a 'cervex-brush' and not just a long Cu-Tip swab?
 
Mij said:
I had precancerous cells (dysplasia) in the early 80s and was treated with laser surgery. I passed out during the biopsy. Glad they caught it early because I went every year. My doctor uses a brush and I still need to be screened every 2 years and made a 'priority patient' for appointments.

I hope the kit includes a 'cervex-brush' and not just a long Cu-Tip swab?
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Didn't you have any anaesthetic for the biopsy???

I was told that I wouldn't be able to have any anaesthetic, even if I went private. I made it clear that because of that, I wouldn't have a biopsy.
 
No. I was a social smoker back then and decided to have a cigarette instead of eating breakfast. I was nervous but an empty stomach most likely didn't help during the biopsy. I did have anaesthetic for the laser surgery though.
 
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