David Rutley MP for Macclesfield is supporting Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust’s campaign for women to attend their cervical screening appointments – a decision that could save their lives.
Cervical cancer affects about 3,000 women in the UK every year. It is a disease that is largely preventable with an effective vaccination and screening programme. However, screening rates across the country are sadly falling. Figures for 2011/12 show that over 1 in 5 women failed to attend for their smear test in Eastern Cheshire.
Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust is campaigning to encourage women to attend their screenings. Their research shows that only 78.3 of women take up their screening invitation in England. This number drops to just 62% for women aged 25-29 and 72.7% for women aged 60 – 64. If screening increased to 85% there would be a 14% drop in numbers diagnosed with cervical cancer in just one year. Furthermore, if all women attended annually, incidence could decrease by 35% in just one year and deaths would halve over five years.
Professor Julietta Patnick, Director of the NHS Cancer Screening Programmes, said, “It’s important women realise that attending their cervical screening appointment is the best preventative measure they can take to avoid cervical cancer. Cervical screening can help detect abnormalities, which if left untreated, could develop into cervical cancer at a later stage. Screening saves 4,500 lives in England each year and that’s why we strongly encourage women to accept their cervical screening invitation.”
Robert Music, Chief Executive of Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, said, “If we could achieve just a small percentage increase in screening uptake over the next few years, the resultant impact on both women facing a diagnosis and numbers dying could be dramatically reduced from thousands each year to just a few hundred.
“We see daily how devastating the impact of a diagnosis can be financially, physically and emotionally. It’s now paramount that all those who can help turn this around – government, policy and health influencers both locally and nationally, GPs and employers – work together to help make this a disease of the past.”
David said, “I welcome the work being done by Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust. I fully support its campaign for women to attend their screening appointments – a quick procedure can make a big difference. The campaign encourages all women who haven’t attended or are overdue a test to speak to their practice nurse or GP. Five minutes of your time could save your life.”