Jade Goody was a wake up call to all of us but I know women who are convinced it won't happen to them and won't go for a smear.

If you're one of those please get down to your gp now.

I had my smear after dodging it for something like ten years; the result was abnormal and treatment was necessary. What a shock. I felt well and normal, had no symptoms and only had it done because it was raised when I moved and changed my gp.

I am now faced with more treatment because there are more abnormal cells.

Please don't be like me - go and have that dreaded smear. Early detection is everything.