Plea to health professionals to beat cervical cancer - cervical screening awareness week
News Release
As cervical cancer charity prepares for national screening awareness week
PLEA TO HEALTH PROFESSIONALS TO HELP BEAT CERVICAL CANCER
As it prepares for its national screening awareness week, the UK’s only dedicated cervical cancer charity, Jo’s Trust, is calling on healthcare professionals to help beat the disease that killed TV celebrity Jade Goody at the age of 27.
The focus of the week is a major national postcard and poster campaign* targeting women in the 25 plus age group – those who have been worst over not to responding to screening invitations - in UK bars, clubs, health clubs and, for Scotland and Wales where the screening age is lower, universities.
The age for women to be screened in England was 20 until 2004 but it was subsequently increased to 25. In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland the screening remains at 20. A decision is awaited from government on whether to reverse the age in England.
The charity is urging health professionals:
• to review the quality of the services they offer
• to identify what training is needed to deliver better services
and to consider:
- running targeted campaigns, for specific age groups such as 25 -29 year olds, that are fun and more visually effective
- testing take-up rate through using different communications to the same target groups
- conducting surveys to understand attitudes to screening in their community
- putting up posters in GP surgeries
- finding case studies to promote the importance of screening and issue press releases
Cervical cancer is the most preventable form of cancer yet it is still the second biggest killer of women under 35. Each year in the UK around 3,000 women are diagnosed, with 1,000 dying from the disease.
It is not believed to be hereditary, 99.7% cases caused by persistent infection with a virus called human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is a very common virus transmitted through skin to skin contact in the genital area. Up to 75% of people at reproductive age will be infected with HPV at some point in their lives but for the majority of women it will not result in cervical cancer.
Detection of early changes in the cervix by regular screening is – to date – the most effective way of preventing this cancer from developing. More than four million women in the UK are invited to attend a smear test every year. More than 90% receive a normal smear result.
Robert Music, director of Jo’s Trust, said: “The role of healthcare professionals is crucial if we are to turn around the increasing numbers of women – particularly in the 25 plus age group – who aren’t attending cervical screening.
“The aim of the charity’s screening awareness week is to reinforce the message that screening saves lives. We urgently need to educate women – particularly those in the 25 plus age group - on the importance of attending regular screening. Last year one million women didn’t attend – potentially putting their lives at risk. The tragic death of Jade Goody is helping to reverse that trend but we must keep up the momentum. We can’t afford to be complacent.”
• National Screening Awareness Week runs from June 8 – 14.
-ends-
May 2009
NOTES TO EDITORS
- Jo’s Trust – www.jotrust.co.uk – is a registered charity 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.
- *The postcard and poster campaign is supported by Sanofi Pasteur MSD
- 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.
Press enquiries to David Leck and Vicky Huntley at David Leck Associates on 01322 528580/07710 326256/07811 534346.
Last updated: 20/04/2010
