90,000 women not up to date on cancer check

ONE IN THREE AGED 25 TO 49 MISSED CERVICAL SCREENING

AN estimated 90,000 women in Leicestershire have missed their latest smear test, according to newly released data.

The cervical cancer screening is available on the NHS every three years to women aged between 25 and 49 – a third of whom were not up to date with the vital cancer check last year.

In addition, at the end of December, a quarter of those aged 50 to 64 were not up to date with their cervical screenings.

For this age group the test is advised every five years.

Samantha Dixon, chief executive of Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, said: “Cervical screening is vitally important – it can help to stop cancer before it starts, saving lives.

“Yet in some parts of the country as few as half of women and people with a cervix don’t attend screening when invited.

“This can be for a number of reasons. Some aren’t able to find an appointment that fits around work commitments, while some feel anxious or embarrassed.

“Others may have experienced sexual violence, or are living with endometriosis, menopause or vaginismus.

“This Cervical Screening Awareness Week, we’re talking about the importance of attending your screening – and a huge part of this is helping everyone to feel supported and included in the process.”

The screening coverage in Leicestershire for those aged 25 to 49 of 66.4 per cent was the lowest it has been since records began in March 2013.

Of those eligible to be screened, 64,355 in this age group were not up to date with the health check.

For those aged 50 to 64, while 75.2 were up to date with screening at the end of December, 23,983 were unchecked – the lowest level of coverage for that group in at least 10 years. Cervical screening checks a sample of cells from the cervix for certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV).

These high risk HPV, can cause abnormal changes to the cells which can go on to cause cancer.

If these types of HPV are found during screening, the sample of cells is then checked for abnormal changes.

If abnormal cells are not treated, they may turn into cervical cancer.

Generally, the proportion of women getting their screening has been falling since a high of 74 per cent in March 2010 - a peak attributed to the Jade Goody effect, following publicity around the reality star’s illness and death from cervical cancer in March 2009.

Invitations for cervical screening were suspended in April 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and resumed in June that year.