Screening for cervical cancer

A DROP-in cervical screening programme held i n Arbroath could be followed by further sessions in Angus.

Women over the age of 25 who were overdue or had never had a test were given t he opportunity to drop i n to Arbroath Infirmary for the evening sessions.

Around 30 women took up the offer and the screening scheme was complemented by an awareness and informations stand which was set up at the town’s Abbeygate shopping centre.

In Scotland, all women between the ages of 25 and 50 are offered a cervical screening test every three years and t hose between 50 and 65 offered every five years.

Lead colposcopist Dr Kalpana Ragupathy said specialists were keen to encourage more women to take up the offer of screening, adding: “Cervical cancer affects almost one i n 100 women and Tayside has the highest incidence of cervical cancer in Scotland.”