20% Of UK Women Still Don't Attend Smear Tests
Around one thousand women die of cervical cancer in the UK each year. It is estimated that early detection through cervical screening and subsequent treatment can prevent up to 75 per cent of cervical cancers from developing in the UK.
The current system of cervical cancer screening, introduced in the late 1980s throughout the NHS, is aimed at women across the UK aged 20 to 65 years. Women are invited to attend screening every three or five years depending on age, and the system operates on a recall basis if the smear appears abnormal.
However, the NHS is now rolling out a new programme of cervical screening that also checks some women for types of the human papillomavirus (HPV). The link between cervical cancer and infection from HPV is widely recognised. Persistent HPV infection can lead to the development of pre-cancerous and cancerous cells in the cervix.
?Latest scientific research from around the world indicates that testing for HPV is a surer method of pinpointing high-risk cases of cervical pre-cancer since the virus is associated with 99.7 per cent of all cervical cancer.
Currently, the screening programme does not test on a routine basis for the presence of HPV. Doing so could lead to better detection of those women at risk.
Also, women who are not at risk benefit from attending screens less often, leading to cost and efficiency savings for the NHS says Paul Eros, director of molecular diagnostics at leading healthcare company, Roche.
"It is important to note" stressed Paul Eros, "that HPV testing still involves women going for their screens. What is different, is the way in which the sample is analysed."
Robert Music, director, Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust said, "We know that HPV testing has the ability to identify those women at risk of cervical pre-cancer at an earlier stage and it is great to see that this technology is going to be introduced in England for women with mild or borderline results".
Next week (6th ? 12th June) is Cervical Screening Awareness Week, which aims to encourage more women to attend cervical screening.
To coincide with the awareness campaign Nikki Bayley, healthcare writer and journalist, will be tracking and blogging her real life 'journey' of having a smear from the moment she picks up the phone and makes an appointment, until the results land on her doorstep.
"I completely understand why many women don't go for a smear. It may not seem to be a priority, or women may be worried about the results and not exactly relish the thought of the procedure itself.
"I put off making my smear appointment when I was recently invited, which I am not proud of, so now I have decided to share my experience with others in the hope of highlighting the benefits and dispelling some of the myths, whilst helping women to overcome any concerns," says Nikki.
"I want to highlight in my blog that the smear only takes a few minutes and, yet, it could save your life."
Robert Music, director, Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust adds, "We welcome this blog as an innovative way to remind women how essential it is to attend cervical screening when they are invited under the current national screening programme.
We must all work hard to increase awareness through channels like this blog and Cervical Screening Awareness Week, to remind women how vital it is to attend their cervical screen.
"This is evermore important, highlights Robert Music, as most recent screening statistics have shown a fall in the number of women taking up their invitation for screening."
Tagged in cervical cancer