Regular screening can save women’s lives
Every year around 3,000 women will be diagnosed with cervical
cancer and 1,000 will die from the disease, which is the second
most common form of cancer in women aged 35 and under, after breast
cancer. However, regular screening can detect abnormal
pre-cancerous cells, which can then be treated before they turn to
cancer.
Over 4 million women in the UK are invited every year for a
cervical smear test. But according to cervical cancer charity Jo’s
Trust, last year 1 million of those women invited did not attend –
the majority of whom were under 30.
Dr Tina Peers from North Downs Hospital in Caterham explains:
“Detection of early changes in the cervix through regular screening
is the most effective method of preventing cancer. Furthermore, the
detection of early-stage cancer confined to the cervix offers a
good prognosis, with a successful treatment rate of over 85%. I
cannot emphasise enough the importance of having a regular cervical
smear test.”
While cervical smear tests are routinely offered by the NHS in
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to women from age 20, in
England they are only routinely offered to women from age 25. Marie
Stopes International, the UK’s leading sexual health charity, is
currently backing a campaign to lower the age of cervical cancer
screening in the NHS in England.
Dr Peers said: “Previous NHS guidelines advised women to begin
screening for cervical cancer from a year after they become
sexually active, and this advice is still safe. Many Ramsay
hospitals can provide cervical screening to private patients, in a
clean, comfortable and discreet environment.”