An Aberdeen florist has created a special window display to help nip cervical cancer in the bud.
Azalea Flowers, on the city’s George Street, has recreated the bouquet used in Flower – a film which aims to challenge the reasons women give for not attending their smear – to mark cervical screening awareness week.
The potentially life-saving test can detect cells that could turn into cancer.
Although, it is the best way to protect women from the disease, statistics show that between April 2015 and March 2-16, a third of women in Scotland, aged 25-35, did not attend their smear test.
Sarah Bingham, 29, from Aberdeenshire, had treatment to remove abnormal cells identified during a routine smear test last year.
She said: “I have always attended screening without hesitation and when I received a letter asking me to go for my regular smear I made an appointment with my GP.”
After being referred to hospital for a biopsy, she was told she needed treatment to remove abnormal cells from her cervix.
She added: “The news was a shock but the treatment was fully explained to me before it began and the nurses were so lovely and put me at ease.
“I am just so glad that the abnormalities were caught early thanks to my smear test.”
Linda Harper, associate director of practice nursing at NHS Grampian said: “The message we want to get across this cervical screening awareness week is that we’re here waiting to help protect you from cervical cancer.
“So, don’t ignore your invite when it pops through your letterbox, or forget about it completely, it could save your life.”