Women urged to get cervical screening
WOMEN with learning difficulties in Wokingham
being encouraged to take up their invites for cervical screening.
Research has shown a large number of women with learning difficulties are not getting the test done, and therefore potentially putting their lives at risk.
Statistics released to coincide with Cervical Cancer Awareness Week (June 12 18), showed that only 27% of eligible women aged 25 to 34-years-old in Wokingham with learning difficulties received cervical cancer screening, whereas 75% of women without a learning
received their test in 2015/16.
Every day nine women in the UK are diagnosed with cervical cancer, and three women will lose their lives to the disease. While it is the most common cancer in women under 35 it is largely preventable thanks to cervical screening and the HPV vaccination programme.
Dr Johan Zylstra, Chair of the Wokingham Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) Governing Body, said: “The proportion of women with Learning Difficulties who get the test to check the health of the cells of the cervix is very low compared to the wider population, and we are working to combat this.
“It is really important for women with Learning Difficulties to attend cervical screening as it can detect precancer abnormalities, which, if left untreated, may develop into cancer. We are also encouraging their friends and loved ones to encourage and support them to get the test done.”
For more information on cervical screening visit www. jostrust.org.uk.