MILLIONS of women are missing out on life-saving cancer checks, NHS figures show. They've been told not to delay contacting their GP, who can initiate tests right away. One in three eligible women - more than 1.
2million - did not take up the offer of a free cervical screening in England last year. Health chiefs are urging those who missed out to get tested now so that potential cancer can be found as early as possible. As of December 2023, just 65.
8 per cent of the 11million eligible women aged 25 to 49 were screened on time. The proportion was 74.1 per cent among those 50 to 64.
Of the 4.62million invited in 2022 to 2023, just 3.43million attended.
All women aged 25 to 64 are offered the "vitally important" NHS screening at least once every five years. The 10-minute appointment checks for high-risk HPV, which causes 99 per cent of cervical cancers. The disease affects around 3,300 women every year in the UK and kills about 850 - including Big Brother star Jade Goody when she was just 27.
HPV is carried by almost everyone. It is passed through sex (but is not considered an STI). Most people's immune system clears HPV within a couple of years without any harm.
But for some people who have HPV there may be changes to the cells, which is found during a smear test. This could evolve into cancer. A positive HPV smear test result does not mean a person has cancer, only that they might need follow-up tests.
This is why having a smear test is so vital, to prevent cancer occurring. La.
