Is Jade Goody's legacy already forgotten?
Embargoed until 00:01 on Sunday 21st March
News Release
Is Jade Goody’s legacy already forgotten? Cervical cancer charity highlights the need for investment in education.
With 22nd March being the first anniversary of the death of Jade Goody from cervical cancer, Jo’s Trust, the UK’s only dedicated cervical cancer charity is concerned that her legacy is already being forgotten as the numbers of girls and women taking up potentially life saving opportunities to prevent cervical cancer seem to be falling.
In 2008-9 the numbers of eligible women undergoing cervical screening increased by just under 400,000, a rise of around 12%. This increase, the first for many years, was attributed to Jade Goody through her public battle with cervical cancer.
Robert Music, director of Jo’s Trust said “As a result of Jade being so public and brave about her diagnosis, we saw a huge increase in women being screened last year and for the first time in years screening attendance went up.”
“However, speaking to experts involved in cervical screening it looks as if these numbers are coming down dramatically, perhaps almost to levels before Jade was diagnosed. On top of this, the numbers of girls having the HPV vaccination which protects against 70% of all cervical cancers are also down compared to last year, which is worrying.”
“We are incredibly fortunate in the UK to have cervical screening and HPV vaccination programmes. However, we are very concerned that the number of girls and women using these potentially life saving programmes is going down. This highlights the real need for long term investment in smart, targeted education and awareness programmes.
“We need to remind women that cervical cancer is a largely preventable disease and one where they can take proactive steps to reducing their risk. Jade was just 27 when she tragically died and we don’t want to see more children losing their mothers and parents losing their daughters”
It is estimated that cervical screening saves around 4,500 lives a year. Sarah Robertson, whose cervical cancer was found last year as a result of attending cervical screening said, “I was diagnosed with Stage 1 cervical cancer, which has been treated, and thankfully I am now all clear. I can’t bear to think what could have happened to me if I hadn’t gone for the screening. I know that no woman enjoys the experience but it works and I am proof that screening saves lives. I urge all women who did not attend their last screening to act now.”
-ends-
19th March 2010
Jo’s Trust, 16 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London, WC2A 3ED
Email: info@jotrust.co.uk Tel: +44 (0) 20 7936 7498 Fax: +44 (0) 20 7936 7598 Website: www.jotrust.co.uk
Reg Charity No: 1076289
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 aged 40. Jo’s Trust is the UK’s only dedicated cervical cancer charity offering support and information for women, their families and friends affected by cervical cancer and cervical abnormalities.
- Just under 1,000 women die from cervical cancer in the UK each year with 2,800 newly diagnosed.
- Since its launch, the NHS Cervical Screening Programme has been highly successful, saving an estimated 4,500 lives every year.
- In the UK, girls in year 8 at school (aged 12 to 13) are offered the HPV vaccine. There is also a year 'catch up' programme in place to vaccinate girls aged between 13 and 18.
- Cervical cancer is predominantly caused by the Human Papilliomavirus (HPV) which can be caught as soon as you start having intimate relationships.
Further information:
For all Jo’s Trust enquiries please contact: Robert Music, Director: 020 7936 7498, 07980 720061, robert@jotrust.co.uk
Last updated: 20/04/2010
