New cervical screening figures out today show increase in women at risk from preventable disease

New figures out today show an increase in the numbers of women at risk from a preventable disease.
Leading national charity Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust is calling for urgent action as the NHS reveals one in five women are not taking up their invitation to attend a five minute cervical screening test that could mean the difference between life and death. For women under 35 that figure is even worse, with more than one in three not attending.

Cervical cancer claims three UK lives each day and sees one woman being diagnosed every three hours but although cervical screening saves around 4,500 lives in England each year, the numbers of women screened has fallen. Only 2.6 million women in England aged 25-49 were tested by the NHS Cervical Screening Programme in 2010-11, a fall of 51,681 from the previous year.

Robert Music, Director of Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, the UK's only charity dedicated to women and those close to them affected by cervical abnormalities and cervical cancer said: “These new figures are a big concern. The number of eligible women screened at least once in the past five years has dropped from 79.5% last year to 78.6%. A downward trend is emerging which we need to reverse. Screening picks up abnormalities which can develop into cervical cancer. As coverage falls, we are likely to see cases of cervical cancer rise. “

“Particularly worrying is that over 37% of women aged 25-29 have not been tested for more than three years as recent research showed cervical cancer rates among women in their 20s has risen sharply, despite the overall incidence of cervical cancer dropping. “

“And after seeing screening coverage last year fall below 80% in women over 50 for the first time in ten years, in the latest figures that number has dropped again, from 78.9% to 78%. NHS Cervical Screening Programme figures show that 56% of women aged 50-64 with fully invasive cancer hadn’t been screened within the last seven years, compared to only 16% of women without cervical cancer. “

“We have conducted major polling with YouGov to look at the reasons why women are not attending screening* and we hope that uptake of the HPV vaccine that is offered to schoolgirls continues to be high as it protects against 70% of cervical cancers. It is believed that if year on year take up of the vaccine continues to be around 80% the incidence of cervical cancer could be reduced by 2/3rds in women under 30 by 2025. “

“But today’s figures highlight an urgent need to better understand why we are seeing drop offs in screening uptake amongst particular age groups.“

“We must find ways to effectively rise to the very real challenge of encouraging more women to take proactive steps to reduce their risk of cervical cancer by attending screening. Quite simply, it could save their life.”

For more information Contact Elizabeth Udall, Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, on 07515 852690 or [email protected]

Notes for Editors
Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust (www.jostrust.org.uk) - is the UK’s only dedicated cervical cancer charity offering support and information for those affected by cervical cancer and cervical abnormalities. National Helpline 0808 802 8000

Around three women in the UK die each day from cervical cancer, with someone being diagnosed every three hours facing an uncertain future. Over 300,000 women a year are told they may have a cervical abnormality that could require treatment

It is estimated that the NHS Cervical Screening Programme saves 4,500 lives every year. Cervical cancer is predominantly caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) which can be caught as soon as you start having intimate relationships

According to research funded by Cancer Research UK and presented at the National Cancer Research Institute’s annual conference in November 2011, the incidence of cervical cancer in women in their 20s has risen by over 40 per cent between 1992 and 2006 in England, despite the overall incidence of cervical cancer dropping by 30 per cent. The research looked at overall trends in cervical cancer incidence in women aged between 20 and 79 years from 1982 to 2006. Incidence of the disease across England rose by 43% between 1992-94 and 2006-08.

In 1992-1994, about six women aged 20 to 29 in every 100,000 (around 215 per year) were diagnosed with cervical cancer. This increased to around eight per 100,000 between 2006 and 2008 (around 283 cases per year).Figures for 2007 - 2008 showed around nine women in every 100,000 (606 cases, 303 per year) developing cervical cancer. In comparison in women aged 50-79 years the incidence dropped from around 17 per 100,000 (6263 cases) between 1992 and 1996 to just over 10 per 100,000 (4089 cases) during 2002 and 2006.

The Cervical Cancer Audit produced by the NHSCCP in July 2011 showed that for women aged 50-64 with fully invasive cervical cancer (1B+) 56% had not been screened within the last 7 years compared to only 16% of women without cervical cancer.

* The results of a major YouGov survey for Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust showed that lack of flexibility by employers and GPs in enabling women to attend cervical screening could be putting women at risk. Significant numbers said lack of appointment choice at surgeries and difficulty taking time off work were factors in them delaying or even missing this vital test.
In the survey with women who had missed or delayed a cervical screening appointment:
 

- 39% said they didn’t find it easy to leave work in order to attend appointments
- Only 16% said their GP surgery offers screening appointments in evenings or weekends
- 30% aged 25-34 always book holiday as they were too embarrassed to talk to employers
- Just 70% of Asian women knew what screening is for versus 91% of white women
- Only 53% of BME women aged 55-65 think screening is necessary v 67% white women
- Less than half of BME women (49%) knew the Human Papilloma Virus causes cervical cancer

A separate YouGov survey for Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust revealed an urgent need to improve awareness amongst ethnic minority women of cervical cancer with just 70% of Asian women knowing what screening is for versus 91% of white women.