Over 100,000 women didn’t attend cervical screening in Northern Ireland in the last year

111,253 Northern Irish women are not up to date with their cervical screening (smear test) with almost one in four not attending the test which could save their life.[1] Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust is concerned that if this does not change then the number of lives lost will increase.

Cervical Cancer Prevention Week runs from 22-28 January and Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust is particularly concerned about women aged 25-29 in Northern Ireland as almost one in three women in this age group do not attend cervical screening when invited. The charity is calling on the public to get involved with their #SmearForSmear campaign which encourages women to post a smeared lipstick selfie on social media with the message: Attend your smear, reduce your risk of cervical cancer; while nominating their friends to do the same.

New research[2] by the charity has also found over half (51%) of 25-29 year olds in the UK have delayed or not attended cervical screening with almost one quarter (24%) admitting they have delayed for over one year and almost one in ten (9%) having never attended the test which provides the best protection against cervical cancer. Reasons for not attending included simply putting it off (33%), worrying it would be embarrassing (27%) and worrying it would be painful (25%).

When asked about accessing screening, of those who reported delaying or never attending:

• 57% would like the opportunity to attend cervical screening at a GP practice of their choice e.g. one close to work
• 35% would like the opportunity to attend a walk-in appointment at a sexual health clinic
• 65% would like the opportunity to self-test at home

 

Robert Music, Chief Executive of Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, said: “We have one of the best cervical screening programmes in the world saving approximately 5,000 lives every year. However at a time when the number attending is falling, we need to be seeing increased investment in targeted awareness campaigns to encourage women to take up their invitation for cervical screening and not delay attending. Cervical screening prevents 70% of cervical cancers from developing and if we do not prioritise and increase investment in prevention, there will be more women facing the physical and psychological cost of cervical cancer, an increased burden on the NHS and state, and more lives lost.”

Further findings of the charity’s research include a lack of awareness of the symptoms of cervical cancer with one in five (24%) unable to recognise a single symptom and only half (51%) recognising bleeding outside of periods (the most common symptom) as one. Perception over the role of smear tests was also low, as only half (46%) knew it looks for pre-cancerous cells and almost a quarter (23%) incorrectly think it is a test for ovarian cancer. When asked what increases your risk of cervical cancer, almost two thirds (63%) incorrectly said family history of the disease and one in four (23%) said being overweight

 

Ends

For more information, case studies or interviews please contact 020 7250 8311 / 07772 290 064 or email media@jostrust.org.uk  

 

Notes to editors

Cervical Cancer Prevention Week runs from 22-28 January 2017 and the charity is launching its #SmearForSmear campaign during the week. The successful campaign which is in its third year sees thousands of people sharing smeared lipstick selfies with the message “Attend your smear test, reduce your risk of cervical cancer”. In 2016 the campaign saw support from celebrities including Cara Delevingne, Lauren Pope and Erin O’Connor reaching millions of people across the world. For more information visit www.jostrust.org.uk/smearforsmear

Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust (www.jostrust.org.uk) is the UK’s only dedicated charity offering support and information to women of all ages and their loved ones affected by cervical cancer and cervical abnormalities. The National Helpline is on 0808 802 8000.

 

About cervical cancer

• The majority (99.7%) of cervical cancers are caused by persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection which causes changes to the cervical cells.
• HPV is an extremely common virus; around four out of five people are exposed to the virus. Anyone who is sexually active can be infected with HPV at some time. The body’s immune system will usually clear it up.
• 220,000 UK women are diagnosed with cervical abnormalities each year.
• Over 3,200 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 890 women lose their lives every year.
• It is the most common cancer in women under 35.

About cervical screening

• 5 million UK women are invited to cervical screening each year.
• Women aged 25-49 are invited every three years and women aged 50-64 are invited every five years.
• Women who have received the HPV vaccine will still have to attend cervical screening.