- 26/01/2017
- Posted by: Mike Hedges MS
- Category: Press Releases
Mike Hedges AM supports Cervical Cancer Prevention Week
Local AM Mike Hedges AM is supporting Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust’s call for action to increase cervical screening uptake rates. Cervical screening uptake is declining and more women each year are being diagnosed with cervical cancer.
Commenting ahead of Cervical Cancer Prevention Week, local AM Mike Hedges AM said: “I am very concerned that more than one in five of eligible women in Wales did not attend cervical screening last year. Cervical cancer is the most common cancer in women under 35 and is on the rise in women over 50. However, screening can detect cervical abnormalities and women can receive treatment before cancer develops.
“We need a step change in awareness about the importance of cervical screening and I am proud to support Cervical Cancer Prevention Week.”
Robert Music, Chief Executive of Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, said: “We have one of the best cervical screening programmes in the world which saves approximately 5,000 lives a year across the UK. However, the number of women attending their screening is falling. If we do not increase investment in prevention we will be faced with more women facing the physical and psychological cost of cervical cancer, increased burden on the NHS and state, and more lives lost.”
For regional or local statistics on cervical screening coverage, please contact [email protected]
ENDS
Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust (www.jostrust.org.uk) is the UK’s only charity for women dedicated to women affected by cervical cancer and cervical abnormalities. Our vision is a future where cervical cancer is a thing of the past. The National Helpline is on 0808 802 8000.
Cervical Cancer Prevention Week runs from 22-28 January and Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust is launching their enormously successful cervical screening awareness campaign #SmearForSmear at 11am on Sunday 22 January. The campaign asks women (and men) to share smeared lipstick selfies with the message “Attend your smear test, reduce your risk of cervical cancer”. www.jostrust.org.uk/smearforsmear
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 will contract the virus in their life time and anyone who is sexually active can be infected with it. 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
About cervical screening
- Around 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
