Jade Goody's death makes more Scots women test for cancer

Published on Tuesday 25 August 2009 13:34

THE death of reality TV star Jade Goody has led to a 20% increase in the number of Scots women being tested for cervical cancer, health chiefs said today.

The number of women having cervical smears jumped by about 75,000 in the past year, figures showed.

Public Health Minister Shona Robison and cancer charity Macmillan Cancer Support both welcomed the increase.

Ms Robison said: "This is clear proof that being more open about this illness and the need for screening can and does encourage women to come forward.

"Openness about screening and cancer is paramount – more than anything, that is what will ultimately save lives."

About 450,000 cervical smears were carried out in 2008/09, according to the NHS. This is the largest number of smears in any one year since 2001/02.

Women are offered a cervical screen every three years. Of those eligible, about three quarters had already been screened in the previous three-and-half years, a rise of 4% compared with the figure on March 31 last year.

The biggest rise – 6% – was with women aged 20-24.

Uptake rates have increased across all NHS boards.

Goody shot to fame on Big Brother in 2002 and was diagnosed with cervical cancer in August last year.

She died in March aged 27 – with Prime Minister Gordon leading the tributes.

"The rise in the number of women attending cervical screening most likely reflects the impact of the publicity surrounding Jade Goody's death from cervical cancer," the NHS reported today in its statistical publication.

About 92% of satisfactory smears were negative but 3.5% had pre-cancerous change.

In Scotland women aged 20-60 are eligible for screening.

The recent immunisation programme against the human papilloma virus (HPV) for girls aged 12 and 13 also helped raise awareness of cervical cancer screening.

Ms Robison said: "Thousands more women are taking this positive step to protect their health, which is enormously encouraging.

"The rise in uptake coincides with the HPV immunisation campaign, which promotes the importance of cervical screening, and the very sad illness and death of Jade Goody, who worked hard to raise awareness of cervical cancer.

Elspeth Atkinson, Macmillan Cancer Support's director for Scotland, said: "It is good news that more women are attending for routine screening and we hope this is a trend that will continue.

"In the UK cervical cancer is the second most common cause of cancer in under 35-year-olds, and screening undoubtedly saves lives.

"Abnormalities that are detected early by a smear test can usually be treated successfully.

"This is why it's also vitally important that women attend any follow-up appointments for further tests."