Life

Charity concerned at 'steep rise' in cervical cancer rates among young women

Women have expressed fears that the test for cervical cancer will be painful
Women have expressed fears that the test for cervical cancer will be painful Women have expressed fears that the test for cervical cancer will be painful

THERE has been a steep rise in rates of cervical cancer among women aged 25 to 29, a charity has warned.

Cancer Research UK said new figures show a decade-long lack of progress in tackling the disease, with worryingly low numbers of women attending screening.

While the death of TV star Jade Goody in 2009 boosted the numbers of young women seeking screening, that effect has now long worn off.

The latest figures show that 3,192 women on average are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year, with most of these in younger age groups. This includes around 400 cases in the last year among women aged 25 to 29.

When it comes to rates, there were 12 cases per 100,000 women aged 25 to 29 in 2004/06, rising to 18.5 cases per 100,000 in 2015/17 – a 54 per cent jump.

In the long run, experts believe the combined effect of better screening and the success of the human papillomavirus (HPV) jab given to schoolchildren – which protects against cervical cancer – will lead to the disease being virtually eliminated.

But in the meantime, there is concern about dropping screening rates, with surveys showing that young women feel embarrassed or worry the tests will will hurt.

Cancer Research UK's chief executive Michelle Mitchell said latest figures showed that "research has protected thousands of people in the UK from cervical cancer, but they also highlight a worrying trend that shows progress is stalling and stagnating, which could undermine this success".

Women between the ages of 25 and 64 are invited for regular cervical screening under the NHS Cervical Screening Programme.