Smear test shock (From Runcorn and Widnes World)

Cervical cancer victims failed to have smear tests

12:50pm Monday 23rd May 2011 in News By Vicki Stockman

MORE than half of women who develop cervical cancer in Halton have not had a smear test.

Health experts say these shocking new figures are a ‘wake up call’ for women who ignore requests to have the routine examination.

Dr Daniel Seddon, public health consultant with NHS Halton said: “These are women who have not gone for 10 or 15 years or have never had a smear test.

“We know about one in five women who we think are eligible for screening do not come. In younger women it’s slightly higher.

“It’s a wake up call to see why younger women aren’t coming.”

The number of young women not having the check up has risen, despite high profile cases of celebrities like Jade Goody, dying from the disease.

A survey revealed that 39 per cent of working women had delayed or missed appointments for their test because they could not get time off.

Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable forms of cancer, yet is still the second biggest killer of women in their early 30s in the UK.

The screening process shows up early changes which, if untreated could lead to cancer in the future.

More than 98 per cent of women receive their results within two weeks of being screened.

For further information, visit cancerscreening.nhs.uk or visit your GP.