North Wales AM, Mark Isherwood, is supporting Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust in their call to make cervical cancer a disease of the past.
Cervical screening prevents 75% of cervical cancers from developing yet attendance in Wales is now at an 11 year low (77.0%) with only 77.4% of women in Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board taking up their screening invitation.
Mr Isherwood said: “Around three women are diagnosed with cervical cancer in Wales every week. Cervical screening provides the best protection against the disease so it is concerning to hear that so many women are not attending this potentially life-saving test when invited.
“We all have a role to play in increasing attendance and we need to work together to ensure that women invited for their screening understand the importance of the test and are able to access the programme. If we do not take action to tackle declining coverage, we will ultimately see lives lost which could have been prevented.”
Robert Music, Chief Executive of Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, said: “Thanks to the cervical screening and HPV vaccination programme cervical cancer is a disease that can be largely prevented. It is incredible to have a preventable cancer and we want to see it become a disease of the past. To get there we urgently need to increase uptake of cervical screening and ensure uptake of the HPV vaccination does not slip.”
Maria Dullaghan from Wales said: “In April 2010 I started to have irregular bleeding but as it got worse I decided to book my smear test with my GP. The test came back abnormal and following further investigations I was told I had stage 1b/2a cervical cancer at 25 years old. It was recommended I had a hysterectomy, but because of the position of the tumour the doctors weren’t satisfied they had enough clear margins and I also had to have radiotherapy, chemotherapy and brachytherapy. Treatment was successful and I’m now 7 years cancer free and passionate about raising awareness of the importance of smear test. “
Women in Wales aged 25-49 are invited for cervical screening every three years and women aged 50-64 are invited every five years. In Wales, 149 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2015 and 60 sadly lost their lives.
During June’s Cervical Screening Awareness Week (11-17 June), Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, will be raising awareness of this potentially life-saving test and encouraging women to attend.
ENDS