Embarrassment 'epidemic' is killing women! On International Women's Day empower girls to know cancer signs

THERE'S an epidemic and it is killing women.

Embarrassment is getting in the way of our health – stopping us having life-saving smear tests, and shaming us into ignoring the signs of cancer.

So when better to try and break down the taboos around women's bodies and their health than International Women's Day?

Yes, there is no limit to what women can do. We do run the world.

And yes, when women support each other incredible things do happen.

But, when it comes to our health, are we doing enough?

'My daughter deserves better'

I choked up this morning, I nearly cried real tears.

My nine-year-old daughter woke me up shouting, "Happy International Women's Day".

She told me she had to pick a woman that's inspired her to talk about at school today.

"Mummy, I picked you," she told me. "I want to be like you, but not have cancer."

The truth is, it's all the other way around. My daughter Eloise is MY inspiration.

She is un-apologetically herself, she bounces into any room full of energy, is bursting with creativity and is a bright, beautiful little nightmare that's willing to give anything a go.

I just pray that as she gets older she just channels these qualities more and more.

Like any mum, all I hope is she feels she can do anything, be anything, and not feel she has to "fit" any mould.

Empower girls to have choices and a healthy future

For me, International Women's Day is about ensuring we give that hope to future generation.

We remind our daughters, nieces and friends' kids that anything is possible.

We empower them to have choices, to have opinions, and show them that being kind and supporting each other is fundamental to getting on in life.

But, we also have a duty to teach them important life lessons… ones that could ultimately save their life.

While we are rightly fighting to see more women in boardrooms, we also need to do what we can to ensure future generations of women have a brighter future, health wise.

Embarrassment is killing women

There is an unspoken epidemic, that's putting women's lives at risk.

Too many women are embarrassed about their bodies, too shy to use the right words for their bits – and too worried to face what could be signs of cancer.

Embarrassment is putting five million women's lives at risk, putting off having life-saving smear tests.

As a result two women die every week from cervical cancer – when it's totally preventable.

SILENT KILLER: The 5 early warning signs of cervical cancer

Early signs can include:

1. Abnormal bleeding (during or after sex, between periods and also post-menopause)period 

The most common and earliest sign of cervical cancer tends to be irregular bleeding.

It happens when the cancer cells grow on the tissue below the cervix.

It's an especially alarming sign in postmenopausal women who no longer have periods. There's no age limit to developing cervical cancer.

2. Unusual vaginal discharge

Everyone's discharge is different, so it's a case of knowing what is normal for you.

If you find that the colour, smell and consistency has changed, then that's something you really need to have checked out.

When cancer lacks oxygen, it can cause an infection which leads to strange smelling discharge.

3. Discomfort or pain during sex

Pain during sex can be a sign of a number of different issues, but one is cervical cancer.

Because the disease often comes with no symptoms, pain during intercourse is one of the key indicators. It can be a sign that the cancer is spreading to surrounding tissues.

4. Lower back pain

It could be down to you straining something in the gym, or it could be a warning sign that something's wrong with your reproductive organs.

Persistent pain – just one off twinges – in the lower back, pelvis or appendix can be a symptom of cervical cancer.

5. Unintended weight loss

While effortless weight loss might sound like the answer to many of our prayers, it's never a good sign if it happens seemingly without cause.

A loss of appetite and unexplained weight loss tend to be signs that the body isn't working properly – it's trying to conserve energy. If you notice that you're not eating as you normally do, go to your GP.

In a week where the Government launched their first ever TV advert to encourage women to get smear tests, we have to take some responsibility.

The number of women getting smear tests is at a 20-year low.

It's not good enough, and we must all shoulder some of the blame.

We should all be making it our job to encourage our girl friends, mums, sisters, aunties, daughters and nieces to book smear tests when those letters arrive.

In Australia they are on the verge of wiping out cervical cancer for the next generation, all thanks to their screening programme.

It just shows how important smear tests really are.

Are we doing enough?

As parents we all have to ask ourselves if we are doing enough?

How comfortable are our daughters when it comes to their bodies?

How comfortable are we all using the correct names for our vaginas, vulvas and labia?

Are we educating young girls to know what's normal when it comes to female health, and are we telling when they should get checked?

We need to encourage young girls to smash down taboos, and learn to feel comfortable with themselves and their bodies, whatever their shape or size.

So how can we empower our young girls this International Women’s Day?

• We must lead by example – go get your smear test, if it's due. One in three women are currently ignoring invites for the life-saving tests, and it's killing women
• Break taboos – tell our girls about the importance of smear tests, knowing their bodies and feeling comfortable talking about it
• Use the right words – vagina, vulva, clitoris, labia… we should all educate ourselves and make sure we are using the right words
• Stop the shame – don't make vagina a dirty word, use it and don't be embarrassed to
• Help them spot signs – talk about what's normal and what's not, ensuring they know when they should worry and see the doctor
• Celebrate all shapes and sizes – hammer home that there is no "normal" when it comes to womens' bodies, embrace it and talk about it, and celebrate positive female role models
• Never stop talking about cancer signs – make sure you speak openly about the signs and symptoms of all female cancers and drum it in that early diagnosis saves lives

So yes, Happy International Women's Day to you all.

While it is great to recognise how far we have come in so many ways, all us women use today as an opportunity to do more.

Let's all make a commitment to ensure the women in our lives put their health first.

Let's leave our daughters with a positive legacy.

And what could be more positive than empowering them to take care of their health?

My new book F*** You Cancer is available to buy now – and gives a brutally honest view of what cancer is really like – buy it here now

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