Public rallies behind campaign to reduce cervical screening age in England

PUBLIC RALLIES BEHIND CAMPAIGN TO REDUCE CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING AGE IN ENGLAND

Claire Walker was only 23 when she died of cervical cancer. On March 18, after a rally at Parliament Square, Claire’s parents and husband will hand a petition in to 10 Downing Street calling for a reduction of the age of cervical screening in England from 25 to 20.

“Claire’s Message” – a campaign set up in memory of Claire and designed to help promote greater awareness and increase levels of screening - has attracted over 15,000 signatures, while a similar campaign by The Sun has reached almost 50,000.

Cervical cancer is the most preventable form of cancer, yet it is still the second biggest cancer killer of women under 35. Each year in the UK around 3,000 women are diagnosed, with 1,000 dying from the disease.

The age for women to be screened in England was 20 until 2004 but was then increased to 25. In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland the screening age remains 20.

Robert Music, Director of Jo’s Trust, said, “Every year the screening programme saves around 4,500 lives. The impact of cervical cancer on a woman and that of her family cannot be overstated. Sadly we hear all too often of devastated parents losing young daughters, of children losing their mothers and husbands losing wives. “

“The terrible plight of Jade Goody and “Claire’s Message” have greatly highlighted the need for women to attend screening, which is hugely valuable and important. What we are now calling for is a speedy and rigorous review of the evidence that was used to increase the screening age to 25.”

March 2009

ends

Notes to Editors

  1. Jo’s Trust - www.jotrust.co.uk – is the cervical cancer charity. It was established in 1999 by James Maxwell in memory of his wife Jo who died of cervical cancer. Jo’s Trust is dedicated to women, their families and friends affected by pre-cancer and cancer of the cervix.
  2. Since its launch 20 years ago, the NHS Cervical Screening Programme has been highly successful, saving an estimated 4,500 lives every year. In England, women are invited for cervical screening from the age of 25 and will be regularly invited for a smear test every three years up to the age of 49. Women will then be invited every five years from 50 to 64 years.
  3. In 2007/08 a total of 4.2 million women aged 25-64 years were invited for cervical screening in England, but nearly one million women (20 per cent) did not attend. For those aged 25-29 almost 34 per cent didn’t attend
  4. Claire’s message http://www.clairesmessage.org/home.html

 


Last updated: 20/04/2010
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