Deprivation doubles cervical cancer risk
Cervical cancer risk doubles for women living in deprived areas
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Tuesday, 02, Dec 2008 08:34
Women living in deprived areas are nearly twice as likely to be diagnosed with cervical cancer than those living in wealthier places.
According to a report from the National Cancer Intelligence Network (NCIN), in the most deprived areas in England there were 12 women per 100,000 diagnosed with cervical cancer between 2000 and 2004.
In the most affluent areas, just six per 100,000 women were diagnosed with the disease during the same time period.
The researchers believe this could be linked to a lower uptake of cervical screening in deprived areas.
Professor David Forman, based at the University of Leeds, said: "Cervical cancer is a largely preventable disease – the national screening programme will pick up most cases before they even develop into cancer.
"Our figures suggest that women living in poorer areas are less likely to attend cervical screening than women who are better-off, so they are more likely to develop the disease.
"Higher rates of smoking in most deprived areas and the earlier onset of sexual activity also contribute to the higher rates of cervical cancer."
Currently, women in England aged 25 to 64 are invited for cervical screening every three to five years.
In 2006, around 20 per cent of women in England invited for cervical screening did not attend, and previous research has shown that women in deprived areas are around 40 per cent less likely to attend.
Screening can pick up on important changes to cells before cervical cancer develops.