Finding time to have a cervical smear test in 2007 could save your life

Finding time to have a cervical smear test in 2007 could save your life

- Free nationwide cervical smear programme to be rolled out by 2008 -

(Monday 1st January 2007) On New Year’s Day 2007, the Irish Cancer Society is reminding all women aged 25 years or more, who have been or are sexually active and who may have never had a smear test or if it has been longer than three years, to make an appointment tomorrow with their GP or local family planning clinic.  Cervical screening prevents the development of cervical cancer because it recognises a pre-cancer state in the cervix. This allows for successful treatment before the abnormal cells have the ability to spread and do harm. Cervical cancer is therefore preventable through screening.

Unlike most of our European neighbours, Ireland has no nationwide screening programme whereby all women aged 25-60 years are invited by the State to attend their GP or family planning clinic for a free smear test every 3-5 years and abnormalities if detected can be treated. In June 2006 the Government promised that such a programme would be rolled out by 2008 under the auspices of the new National Cancer Screening Service which is to come into being in January 2007. In addition to providing the cervical screening programme, the new National Cancer Screening Service will also incorporate BreastCheck, the national breast screening programme.

Consumer research on awareness of and attitudes to cervical screening conducted by the Irish Cancer Society in June 2006 amongst 500 women aged 20 – 60 years showed that 20% of women (or 1 in 5) have never had a smear test (especially evident in the 25-40 year old age group) and only 10% knew that not having regular smear tests might contribute to them getting cervical cancer. In addition only 20% of women claimed to be aware of HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) which most sexually active women are exposed to and which is the major risk factor for developing cervical cancer(1).

Speaking today on the importance of making an appointment to have a smear test in 2007, Dr Grainne Flannelly, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, National Maternity Hospital said “The smear test is a very simple procedure taking less than five minutes. It may be slightly uncomfortable but should not be painful. Once you are lying on the couch, the doctor or nurse will insert an instrument called a speculum into your vagina, to hold the vaginal walls open. A small spatula or brush is then used to take a sample of cells from the cervix which are sent to the lab and examined under a microscope. The cervical smear test can usually show if there are any changes in the cells of the cervix which if not found and treated may later become cancerous. These very early changes are called pre-cancerous changes. It can also find cancer cells so early treatment can be given to stop the spread. The earlier a change is found, the easier it is to successfully treat.”

The National Cancer Registry estimates that there are approximately 1,000 new cases of cervical pre-cancer where abnormalities in the cervix have been detected, 200 new cases of cervical cancer and 70 deaths from cervical cancer every year, which is one of the highest rates in Western Europe.

For further information on the cervical smear tests and/or cervical cancer Freefone the National Cancer Helpline on 1800 200 700 (week days 9am – 5pm, Tuesdays until 9pm). The National Cancer Helpline is part of the Irish Cancer Society’s Cancer Information Service which is staffed by specialist cancer care nurses and which dealt with 9,500 queries in 2006.

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For further information and/or to organise an interview, please contact Jane Curtin, Communications Manager, Irish Cancer Society Tel.: 087 938 0779

References
1 Cervical screening and cancer awareness and attitudes survey. Research Solutions. June 2006

Date: Monday 1st January 2007