Every day nine women in the UK are diagnosed with cervical cancer and three women will lose their lives to the disease – a situation NHS England and Public Health England are hoping to improve by supporting European Cervical Cancer Prevention Week, which runs from today to January 28. 

The week aims to raise awareness of the importance of cervical screening and its role in preventing cancer, as well as encouraging women to go for their screening test when invited. 

Cervical cancer is the most-common cancer in women under 35, but is largely preventable thanks to cervical screening and the HPV vaccination programme.

But statistics show the number of women aged 25-29 who are being screened for cervical cancer is the lowest in any age group, with numbers falling year on year. Surveys by cancer charities indicate that embarrassment and a lack of understanding of the causes of cervical cancer may be behind the decline.

In the South West, the take-up of screening among 25- to 29-year-olds is markedly lower than for eligible women of all ages.

Dr Julie Yates said: ’The screening test is relatively simple, takes about five minutes and is performed by the practice nurse at your GP surgery. 95% of results will be normal and, of those that are not, the vast majority can be treated very easily and will never develop in to cancer.

’I urge women who may have received a letter and decided not to attend to reconsider and make an appointment – it really is very quick, it could prevent you needing more invasive treatment later on and could ultimately save your life.’

The number of women dying from cervical cancer has halved over the past 28 years as a result of the NHS screening programme as well as improvement in treatment.