‘Prioritise your health’ Roz Purcell urges women to go for smear tests after cancer scare last year

"Be aware of symptoms and talk about it."

Roz Purcell has urged women to go for their smear tests following her cancer scare last year. The model and influencer said that she was lucky to have had discovered pre-cancerous cells so she could avail of treatment early and keep on top of her health. She has since urged others to do the same and ensure that they are putting their health first and not putting their smear test off. On Instagram last night, she wrote:

"Hey friends, gentle reminder to be on top of your smear test and why putting it off it a really stupid, pointless thing to do. No one is going to prioritise your health like you. "The promise to eradicate cervical cancer in a generation here is great news but it's still up to you to get checked, be aware of symptoms and talk about it."

Over the weekend, Minister for Health Simon Harris said that Ireland would be free from cervical cancer within a generation in Laura Brennan's honour. The 26-year-old had worked tirelessly campaigning for the HPV vaccine since her cervical cancer diagnosis. She was laid to rest last week. Roz said last night that she has such "admiration" for Laura and the work that she selflessly carried out in the hope of helping other women and girls. "I hope in her passing HPV related cancers will become a thing of the past," she wrote. "I know the thought of getting a screening (for anything) is frightening but what's more scary is knowing you could have caught it early but you were too afraid to just get checked." https://www.instagram.com/p/BvPGuE4BUYy/ CervicalCheck has come under repeated scrutiny this year following reports that approximate 2,300 women were still waiting on their repeated test results. The HSE said last week that the rest of the results should be issued within the next two weeks. The HPV vaccine is generally given to girls between the age of 12 and 13 to protect against seven out of 10 cervical cancers. The vaccine is extremely safe as reviewed by the World Health Organisation. You can read more about the vaccine here.