CAMPAIGNERS have warned that more women in Scotland face dying from preventable forms of cervical cancer due to the record low numbers of patients being screened.
A hard hitting advertising campaign will targeting women between the ages of 25 and 34 – the group most likely to shun screening – after the numbers seeking the checks hit a decade-long low.
One leading charity warned that people may be avoiding cervical screening because it makes them feel uncomfortable or they wrongly feel it is not relevant to them.
Gregor McNie, Cancer Research UK’s senior public affairs manager in Scotland, said: “Whether to go for screening is a personal choice, and we need to ensure that women are given good, evidence based information to help them make their decision, as well as tackling barriers that can prevent some women from taking part - although most women who are invited for cervical screening do take up the offer.
“Some women can find the screening procedure uncomfortable, and for these women it’s a good idea to speak to the practice nurse as there may be things they can do to make you more comfortable.
“Older women may not think this type of screening is relevant to them, but while cervical cancer is unusual as it affects women at younger ages than most cancers, older women also develop the disease. “It’s important that women continue to take up cervical screening every five years as they get older, because the reduction in the risk of developing cervical cancer lasts for at least 20 years after women stop being screened at 64.”
Mr McNie stressed the importance of women taking up cervical screening every five years as they get older. He added that the reduction in the risk of developing cervical cancer lasts for at least 20 years after women stop being screened at the age of 64.
The government advertising campaign came as figures showed uptake of cervical screening north of the Border has fallen across all age groups and areas.
By the end of March only 69.2 per cent of women who were eligible for screening had been tested in the last 3.5 years, described by charities as a concerning decrease from the year before when 70.4 per cent had been screened.
Cancer Research UK also backed the planned Scottish campaign which is designed to target women aged 25-34, who have been shown to be among those least likely to attend.
The charity said reasons for not being screened include that some women find it uncomfortable or older women may wrongly feel the screening is not relevant to them.
Robert Music, chief executive of Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, said: “It is extremely disappointing and concerning to see uptake of cervical screening has fallen again.
“Three women lose their lives to cervical cancer every single day in the UK and not attending cervical screening is the biggest risk factor to developing the disease.
“Incidence of cervical cancer in Scotland has increased by 21 per cent in the last year and if we continue to see uptake decrease we are likely to see even more diagnoses and more lives lost to the disease.”
He added: “Cervical screening is a five minute test, but it is one that could save your life and I want to encourage all women to attend their screening when invited.”
Gregor McNie, Cancer Research UK’s senior public affairs manager in Scotland, said: “Whether to go for screening is a personal choice, and we need to ensure that women are given good, evidence based information to help them make their decision, as well as tackling barriers that can prevent some women from taking part - although most women who are invited for cervical screening do take up the offer.
“Some women can find the screening procedure uncomfortable, and for these women it’s a good idea to speak to the practice nurse as there may be things they can do to make you more comfortable.
“Older women may not think this type of screening is relevant to them, but while cervical cancer is unusual as it affects women at younger ages than most cancers, older women also develop the disease. “It’s important that women continue to take up cervical screening every five years as they get older, because the reduction in the risk of developing cervical cancer lasts for at least 20 years after women stop being screened at 64.”
Chief Medical Officer Dr Catherine Calderwood said that the decrease follows a similar trend in recent years.
She said: “While this maWy be as a result of the change in age group invited for cervical screening, bringing women into the programme for the first time at 25 instead of 20, wWWe’re determined to increase the number of women attending."
“I would urge all eligible women to take up their invitation for screening and hope that this bold new campaign will raise awareness of those benefits and encourage women to make an appointment.”
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