Cervical cancer charity welcomes Department of Health's announcement of cervical screening age review

CERVICAL CANCER CHARITY WELCOMES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH’S ANNOUNCEMENT OF CERVICAL SCREENING AGE REVIEW

The UK’s leading cervical cancer charity, Jo’s Trust, has today welcomed the Department of Health’s announcement that there will be a review of the age at which women in England are screened for cervical cancer.

An expert panel will report later this year on whether women aged 20-24 should be offered smear tests, as they are in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. In 2003, screening in England was moved to start at 25, as it was felt it did more harm than good in younger women.

Robert Music, director of Jo's Trust welcomed the review. He said, "We are pleased that this is finally happening. It is now vital that the review goes as wide and deep as possible to ensure many people are able to offer input. We have seen figures from a couple of areas, that won't be published officially for some time, which show a worrying increase in cancers diagnosed in younger women."

“We also feel that women in England have had the choice about looking after their health taken away. We strongly believe that they should be allowed the same option of being screened at 20. Earlier screening can both save lives and enable many women to avoid enduring devastating treatments. It can also stop the current - and incorrect - message going out which is that cervical cancer does not affect young women.”

13th March 2009

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Notes to Editors

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 those affected by pre-cancer and cancer of the cervix.
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.

Further information:
Robert Music, Director Jo’s Trust, 020 7936 7498, 07980 720061

Last updated: 20/04/2010