Vital cancer tests skipped

THOUSANDS of women are missing vital checks to detect cancers. A fifth aged 30 to 65 have failed to attend at least one smear test for cervical cancer, according to the survey for the Mail in association with LloydsPharmacy.

And 8 per cent of those aged 45 to 69 have missed at least one breast cancer screening. This could result in tumours being diagnosed too late. Breast cancer results in the deaths of 11,400 women in the UK each year and cervical cancer 900.

A worrying 17 per cent of women said they would not consult their GP if they had a health concern or wanted advice. Nearly two in five of these said it was too difficult to get an appointment and 12 per cent said surgery hours were inconvenient.