This week is Cervical Cancer Prevention Week and we are supporting Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust in making cervical cancer a thing of the past.
Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women globally. Every day nine women are diagnosed with cervical cancer in the UK and two women will lose their lives.
Across the UK 1 in 3 people do not attend when invited for their cervical screening (smear test). Yet cervical screening saves thousands of lives a year, or around 7 in 10 cases of cervical cancer.
In Kirklees cervical screening uptake is higher than the national average. The most recent data for women and people with a cervix aged between 25-49 shows a 70% uptake. The national average for this group is 67.20%. People in this age group are invited every 3 years. For the 50-64 age group who are invited every 5 years. The most recent data for Kirklees shows a 78.3% uptake, higher than the national average of 74.60%
Furthermore our Public Health Team are working with partners to continue to promote the importance of screening and its role in the prevention and early diagnosis of cancer. Our team is also working with Homes and Neighbourhoods to inform residents of all the screening programmes available and why it is so important to attend when invited.
Samantha Dixon, Chief Executive at Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust said:
“A world without cervical cancer is in our reach, and we want to get there as soon as possible. By raising awareness of cervical screening and HPV vaccination, we can help stop more women developing cancer before it starts. We can all play our part to do this and get closer to ending cervical cancer.”
Councillor Musarrat Khan, Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care said:
“I fully support any activity that raises awareness of the importance of cervical cancer screening. Kirklees Council’s Public Health Team is working with health partners to encourage people invited for cervical screening to take up this screening offer. It is so important that people attend any cancer screening offer when invited so that early signs of cancer can be found and lives can be saved.”