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Dying For a Smear

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The medic said lie on the couch She swabbed my cervix , I said OUCH It's checking for cancer So I can’t be a chancer For cervical smears I can vouch I lay there with my legs akimbo Butt naked I feel like a bimbo My hubby needn’t fear It’s just a routine smear Not nookie with Peter or Jimbo I think its's a total outrage Girls are denied smears due to age If detected early It could have saved Shirley And youngsters like Amber and Paige In England cervical smears are offered to women aged 25 to 64. Personally, I think the age should be reduced as women in their early 20's have died as they have been deemed too young for a cervical smear screening. Whilst the test is uncomfortable it only takes a few minutes to be done and it could save young lives * Third stanza added 01/15/22 -The names Shirley fitted the rhyme scheme and I've read about Paige Hart who was diagnosed with cancer aged 24. I've been made aware of Amber's Law and fully support the change of age to 18. https://amberslaw.org/about-us/ https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/9952172/woman-cervical-cancer-25-smear-test 01/14/22

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Jack Horne

Date: 3/19/2022 9:38:00 AM

fun write with a very serious & sensible message, my friend x

Gershon Wolf

Date: 1/22/2022 8:36:00 PM

Great point, Jan. A true public service in your limerick.

Connie Marcum Wong

Date: 1/19/2022 6:54:00 PM

An important Limerick that may save a life. Thank you for the personal information I support too. I had them in my twenties where we can get them much earlier in USA.

Jessica Thompson

Date: 1/19/2022 3:38:00 PM

Great write Vera! i always love reading your wonderful work. This was a very informative piece of poetry. Have a great day my friend. jess :)

Paul Callus

Date: 1/18/2022 9:14:00 AM

Highlighting such topics is never enough, Jan, but it is good to keep on reminding those who are in a position to act on sensible recommendations. Keep up the good work! Hugs // paul

M. L. Kiser

Date: 1/17/2022 5:17:00 PM

People change, chemistry changes; why do doctors think that only women of a certain age group can have problems? It is no help. Well penned.

Anil Deo

Date: 1/17/2022 2:50:00 AM

Thank you Sis Jan. Great Kim and good cause, awareness- raising. Kudos. Congrats for telling it like it is, but education is the byproduct. Anil

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 1/16/2022 5:36:00 PM

wow, they don't give them earlier? That really is silly. I agree, Jan.

Tania Kitchin

Date: 1/15/2022 1:14:00 PM

Jan, A cute limerick with an important message! hugs

Mike Gentile

Date: 1/15/2022 12:39:00 PM

Such an important topic Jan! I've had the big C! Its lucky to have been detected early but mainly due to my own diligence! Glad you spread the word!!!

Ronald D Thompson

Date: 1/15/2022 12:12:00 PM

Recently signed a petition to reduce smear tests from the current 5 year interval. So important to keep on top of your health. Great poem highlighting the need to be regularly checked. Best wishes...Ron x

Rico Leffanta

Date: 1/15/2022 10:33:00 AM

I think the invasive procedure could be avoided with a taste test. There must be any number of sensitive tongues that could do this . . . .so I hope your poem enlightens people! Aloha! Rico

Jennifer Proxenos

Date: 1/15/2022 2:17:00 AM

I totally agree with you, pap smears, mammograms done annually yes, definitely from 18 and men's annual P.S.A tests, from age 40 on wards a must. ALL the best my friend, haven't heard or communicated in a while, life is one crazy whirlwind but rather that than boring. Love and hugs, Jennifer.

Jennifer Proxenos
Date: 1/21/2022 10:47:00 AM

I know they squash us until we almost pass out! I persuaded hubby to go for a P.S.A and he had the highest level ever, he was booked in for a prostate removal 2 days later. This was 10 years ago, his surgeon came out after the op. to speak to me and said he was a hairs breadth away from it going to his spine, but they got it. We are merely a grain of sand on an infinite beach my friend. Hugs Jennifer

Jan Allison
Date: 1/15/2022 3:47:00 AM

Hi Jennifer if it wasn't for my hubby asking for a PSA test we would never have known he had cancer, smear tests and mammograms are not pleasant to have done, but they are over quickly and they save lives. When I had a breast lump I had 13 mammograms done my boobies resembled pancakes lol:-) hugs Jan xx

Mark Koplin

Date: 1/14/2022 3:29:00 PM

I enjoyed your limericks Jan, it took my mother at 56. She never went in for check ups.

Jan Allison
Date: 1/15/2022 3:45:00 AM

aww Mark that's sad on so many levels, I can understand a woman's reluctance to have it done as it is such an invasive procedure ( I hate having it done ) . Its so sad young women are presenting with symptoms but are denied a smear test because they are too young, hugs Jan xx

L Milton Hankins

Date: 1/14/2022 12:45:00 PM

Congratulations to you, Jan, for highlighting the need for women to get their annual cervical smear screening. So important, and this is a good platform for this message!

Jan Allison
Date: 1/15/2022 3:43:00 AM

Thanks Milton, its not a nice procedure but its essential women get checked out - I think they are every 3 or 5 years dependant on a woman's age. hugs Jan xx

Anne-Lise Andresen

Date: 1/14/2022 12:41:00 PM

- I took my check three weeks ago ... everything was fine - Have a lovely weekend, Jan :) - hugs // Anne-Lise :)

Jan Allison
Date: 1/15/2022 3:41:00 AM

So glad to hear that yours was negative - it's not a very pleasant procedure to have done (nor are prostate exams for men) but thankfully are pretty quick and not repeated for several years unless an issue is found and in the end they do saves lives:-) hugs Jan xx

Terry Flood

Date: 1/14/2022 12:03:00 PM

Don’t talk to me about the NHS. I tried to book mine but they said women only. Talk about discrimination! ;-) seriously, Jan, an important subject matter handled with just the right amount of humour. Terry

Jan Allison
Date: 1/15/2022 3:37:00 AM

I find humour does make a difference getting the message across Terry:-) hugs Jan xx

Anne-Lise Andresen
Date: 1/14/2022 12:45:00 PM

.... only women, Terry - take a prostate examination ... for men only ... it is important as well :)

Tom Cunningham

Date: 1/14/2022 11:21:00 AM

Lie back and think of England lol. You highlighted a very important subject, Jan just recently I signed a petition to have the age lowered because so many young women have died from it. Where's the millions we were told would be pumped into the NHS after brexit that could be used for services like that. Tom

Jan Allison
Date: 1/15/2022 3:36:00 AM

I was told about Amber's Law by a lovely on line friend and have now written a 3rd stanza, jugs Jan xx