Screening attendance has dropped again

Cervical screenings are a proven way to prevent cervical cancer but hundreds of thousands of women ignore their invitations each year.
The publicity surrounding Jade Goody's illness and death in 2009 persuaded more than 300,000 more women to go to their screening that year.

But this year the number of women attending dropped again.

The Details

From 2002 to 2008:

• The percentage of women aged 25 to 49 who had been screened in the last three years fell from 71.7% to 69.3%
• In women under 35 the percentage screened dropped most dramatically from 68% to just 63%
  

Between 2008 and 2009:

• The number of women of all ages having cervical screening increased to 3.7 million from 3.4 million the year before - an increase of 10.5% (around 353,000 people)
• The three yearly coverage in women aged 25 to 49 years old reached 72.5 per cent
• The five year coverage of women aged 25 to 64 was 78.9 per cent
• The majority of this increase was in women aged 25 to 49
  

2011:

• National reports say that the number of women attending has dropped again
  

Here are some links to recent news articles to show you how important it is to go to your screening

Female First says 20% Of UK women still don't attend smear tests

The Telegraph talks about women 'making excuses' to avoid cervical cancer smear tests

This Is Leicestershire says 1,500 fewer women attended this year in their area

Net Doctor say nearly two-fifths of women they polled said they had missed or delayed appointments because it was difficult to get out of work, while 35% of those who didn't go said they'd be more likely to if GP surgeries had more flexible opening times

Scotland TV reports that 1 in 5 women in Scotland are not going either this year

Cancer Research found that older women are too embarrassed to go for smear tests, and fear pain, while younger women say they are too busy

Attending your screening is the most effective way of preventing cervical cancer, and the majority of those who do develop the disease had not attended their smear tests or follow ups, like Jade Goody.