MILLIONS OF WOMEN MISS OUT ON CANCER CURE

ONE in four women skip their routine smear tests, meaning thousands develop cervical cancer each year when it could have been prevented.

The test, which involves taking a swab from the cervix (the neck of the womb), looks for signs of the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is responsible for most cases of cervical cancer.

If detected, doctors carry out further tests to check for any abnormal changes to cells, which could indicate early signs of cancer. Treatment is given early, which in the majority of cases cures the disease.

But uptake of these vital tests is now at its lowest rate in two decades, with four million women missing out on at least one test.

There are multiple reasons for this, including embarrassment, but also disabilities and a history of sexual trauma.

Also, a small number of women have a condition that affects the position of their cervix, which makes undergoing the procedure uncomfortable.

But for the majority of women, smear tests – which should be arranged every three years for 25-49-year-olds and every five years for 50-65-year-olds – are painless.

Imogen Pinnell, from the charity Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, said: ‘We know that smear tests can be embarrassing or nerveracking. But, ultimately, they can prevent 75 per cent of cervical cancers from even beginning.

‘It is important to talk about barriers to screening, which support can often be offered for.’