The case of reality TV star Jade Goody, who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer, has brought the issue of cervical screening into the spotlight.
The Public Health team at NHS East Sussex Downs and Weald and NHS Hastings and Rother are urging all local women over 25 years of age to make sure they are screened regularly.
NHS screening programme
Under the NHS cervical screening programme for England, women aged 25 to 49 are invited for free cervical screening every three years, and women aged 50 to 64 every five years.
Women over 65 are invited if their previous three tests were not clear or if they have never been screened.
Diana Grice, Director of Public Health for NHS East Sussex Downs and Weald and NHS Hastings and Rother said:
“In 2007-08 in England 4,337,720 women were invited for cervical screening and 3,374,826 were screened.
Over recent years there has been a downward trend in women taking up their invitation to cervical screening, and the reasons for this are difficult to determine.
We already know that younger women in particular are accessing screening less, and there are initiatives already underway to try and tackle this.
If overall coverage of 80 per cent can be achieved, the evidence suggests that a reduction in death rates of 65 to 70 per cent is possible in the long term.”
When cervical screening starts
It is recommended that women who are aged under 25 years do not have cervical screens – but wait until they are invited as part of the national screening programme from the age of 25.
This is because screening women aged under 25 can do more harm than good.
In women under 25, the cervix can still be undergoing normal developmental changes.
These can be picked up during screening as ‘abnormalities’ and lead to treatment which is not required and is not necessary.
If women are concerned about any symptoms they have, they should see their GP.
Women can reduce their risk of cervical cancer by not smoking, reducing alcohol consumption and reducing the number of sexual partners that they have and using condoms.
HPV Vaccine
The HPV vaccine will prevent against some forms of cervical cancer.
Currently all 12 and 13 year old girls are routinely vaccinated in schools.
In East Sussex all 17 to 18 year old girls have been invited to contact their GP to have the vaccine.
During 2009 there will be a catch-up programme so that all girls aged under 18 will have been offered the vaccine.
For help, advice or more information, people should talk to their GP or call NHS Direct on 0845 4647
