More than 1 in 3 younger women missing out on cancer tests

11.29.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 1st Apr 2008

New figures obtained by the Liberal Democrats show that more than a third of women in the North West under the age of 35 are not attending routine smear tests.

The official statistics released after a Liberal Democrat MP quizzed health ministers show that 33.9% of women aged 25-34 are failing to have their smear tests every three and a half years as recommended.

According to figures from Cancer Research UK, this could equate to up to 15 women contracting cervical cancer without knowing it each year in the North West alone.

Commenting on the figures, Local MP Andrew Stunell said:

"These figures make for worrying reading. Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable kinds of cancer and each woman has a role to play in ensuring that she keeps herself healthy and out of danger in this regard.

"A lot of the problem lies in confusion or ignorance of the disease. More needs to be done to educate young women to the dangers of cervical cancer, and to explain that it can often be treated by diagnosing it early."

"It is essential that women keep their appointments for smear tests. They could literally save your life."

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. The figures were obtained from a Parliamentary Question. For more information, please click on the following link: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm080221/text/80221w0029.htm#0802225000106

2. There are 457,626 women in the North West between the ages of 25 and 34. According to Cancer Research UK, an average 9.9 women per 100,000 contact cervical cancer between the ages of 25 and 34. That equates to an average of 45 women in this age group diagnosed with cervical cancer each year in the North West: http://publications.cancerresearchuk.org/WebRoot/crukstoredb/CRUK_PDFs/cervix/cs_cer_f1.1.xls

3. Cervical cancer is caused by a common virus, the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), which is transmitted through sexual intercourse or intimate skin-to-skin genital contact. Cervical cancer charity 'Jo's Trust' claim that up to 80 per cent of women will come into contact with the Human Papilloma Virus at some point in their lifetime.