Fewer women get cancer screening
ONE in five women in Derbyshire is not having regular checks for cervical cancer.
The figure was revealed by the NHS to coincide with the first anniversary of the death of reality TV star Jade Goody.
Following Jade's death from cervical cancer in March last year, there were a rise in the number of Derbyshire women taking up their appointments for screening tests.
But interest has since fallen, according to NHS Derbyshire County.
Last year, 48,094 women aged 25 to 64 were invited to be screened but one in five of those aged 25 to 49 did not attend.
NHS Derbyshire County's cancer screening specialist, Julie Yapp, said: "One in five of our younger women isn't coming forward.
"If you receive an invitation, please make an appointment as screening saves lives."
Comments
by Elizabeth, Australia
Tuesday, March 08 2011, 6:24AM
“What an inappropriate and paternalistic article - this writer needs to go back to basics. Cancer screening is NOT compulsory, it's nothing more than an option and it requires our informed consent - legally and ethically. It is very disrespectful to order women into screening and Govts and doctors need to start focusing on honesty and forget Govt-set targets. This cancer is rare and the test is intrinsically unreliable - as a low risk woman that means the risks exceed the benefits for me - I have always declined cervical screening.
Lifetime risk is 0.65%, (my risk is near zero) while 3 yearly screening sends around 65% of women for colposcopy and usually some sort of biopsy - most are false positives - that is huge over-detection and over-treatment like LEEP and cone biopsies can be harmful and leave women with health and reproductive problems - infertility, cervical stenosis, cervical incompetence - high risk pregnancy, premature babies etc.
The evidence is also clear that screening doesn't help women under 30#, but they get lots of false positives. (1 in 3 - it's 1 in 14 in older women)
The very rare case of cc in a woman under 30 tends to be missed by the test. (false negatives)
#See: "Cervical cancer screening" in "Australian Doctor" 2006 by Assoc Prof Margaret davy, Director, Gyn-Oncology, Royal Adelaide Hospital and Dr Shorne, GP.
Finland has the lowest rates of cc in the world and just as importantly sends the fewest women for colposcopy/biopsies - they offer 5 to 7 tests in total - 5 yearly from age 30.
Anyone after a truthful assessment of the test - go to Dr Joel Sherman's medical privacy forum and under women's privacy concerns, you'll find some great references including the research by Dr Angela Raffle, UK screening expert, "1000 women need regular smears for 35 years to save ONE woman from cervical cancer".
So, if 50% or any other % of women make an informed decision NOT to screen, so be it - that is their option, just as men are free to decline rectal exams and PSA testing. It is unacceptable that some people still believe women are sheep that can be ordered about - no one has the right to make a screening decision for you or to accept risk on your behalf. Words like SHOULD and MUST are frequently used in womens' cancer screening - this is unacceptable. Protect your body, review your risk profile and the risks and benefits of the test and make the best decision for YOUR body. Showcasing tragic and rare cases is disrespectful as well - I make my healthcare decisions based on facts and MY risk profile, not scare campaigns.”