Cervical Screening Awareness Week (10 - 16  June 2012)

WHAT ALL WOMEN NEED TO KNOW…

Cervical cancer has attracted much media coverage in recent years, largely because of Jade Goody's sad death from the disease - but have we learned enough?  In the run up to Cervical Screening Awareness Week in June, 20% of women in the UK still fail to attend cervical screening when invited.

Cervical screening can prevent cervical cancer and is estimated to save up to 5,000 lives each year and yet attendance for screening has been falling in recent years, especially within the youngest age-group invited to take part. The number of young women aged 25-29 screened in the last 5 years has fallen from 78% in 1999 to 66% in 2010. 

Immediately after Jade's death there was a rise in the number of women attending screening but this number is now falling again.

Each year in the UK 2,900 new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed and more than half of these are in women under the age of 50.  Although very rare in women under 25, it is the second most common cancer in women under 35.

The Eve Appeal's face-to-face surveyof 1,400 women in England, has also identified a common misconception amongst women with regards to cervical screening, with 56% of women incorrectly believing that screening can also pick up signs of ovarian cancer.

Says Dr Jo Waller, Senior Research Associate, Health Behaviour Research Centre, UCL, "This reflects confusion about the different gynaecological cancers and reproductive anatomy, and indicates that many women believe that cervical screening is a more general check-up than is actually the case.'

For women of all ages, the best way of reducing your risk of developing cervical cancer is regular screening and in England women aged 25 to 49 are invited for screening every 3 years, and screening continues every 5 years for women aged 50 to 64. However it is important to understand that cervical screening is not screening for gynaecological cancers, rather for abnormal cells on the cervix which can lead to cervical cancer.

Abnormal cells on the cervix don't usually have any symptoms, which is why it is so important to go for screenings regularly. If there are signs of abnormal cells, treating them is often simple and can prevent cancer developing.

Comments Robert Marsh, CEO of The Eve Appeal, "Our hopes are that increased awareness around the importance of regular screening, along with further understanding as to what the screening is set out to detect, will help dispel any outstanding myths and encourage women to attend their cervical screening promptly when invited." 

Nearly all cervical cancers are caused by a common sexually transmitted infection called human papillomavirus (HPV) which most women have at some time but usually clears up on its own. If the infection doesn't clear up there is a risk of abnormal cells developing which could become cervical cancer over time. 

Almost all cases of cervical cancer can be prevented by screening and HPV vaccination.  Says Robert Marsh, CEO of The Eve Appeal "The earlier cervical cancer is diagnosed, the better the outcome will be. Screening is free and can save your life so please, please pick up the phone as soon as that letter drops through the letterbox."

To reduce your risk of developing cervical cancer:

• Go for screening when invited
• Have the HPV vaccine if you are offered it
• If you smoke, try to stop
• Use a condom to reduce your risk of HPV and other sexually transmitted infections.

Further information:           Liz Engel, The Eve Appeal  pressoffice@eveappeal.org.uk

D/L:    0208 663 1040

Mob:   07812 150832

S/B:    020 7299 4430

View full press release here