Number of women tested for cervical cancer falls
The number of women getting screened for cervical cancer has fallen this year
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Friday, 22, Oct 2010 07:56
by Anna Seward
There has been a decrease in the number of women tested for cervical cancer, following a peak in 2008-09.
In total, 3.3 million 25 to 64-year-olds were screened under the NHS Cervical Screening Programme in England in 2009-10, down from 3.6 million the previous year.
The fall was particularly apparent in 25 to 49-year-olds, among whom the number tested dropped from three million to 2.6 million.
The percentage of eligible women who have attended screening at least once in the last five years is currently just under 80 per cent.
Tim Straughan, chief executive of the NHS Information Centre, commented: 'The 2008-09 peak in numbers attending screening, which may be due in part to publicity surrounding the late Jade Goody's battle with cervical cancer, appears not to have been sustained this year.'
He added: 'Screening is vital to catch changes to the cervix which may develop into cervical cancer.'
Jade Goody died in March 2009 following a much-publicised battle with cervical cancer - the third most common form of gynaecological cancer.