Cervical screening soars due to Jade Goody effect

A RISE in the number of women attending cervical screening in Rotherham has been attributed to the 'Jade Goody effect'.

Jade Goody died after a battle with cervical cancer a year ago and the media coverage is thought to have encouraged many women, particularly young women, to keep their screening appointments.

New figures from NHS Rotherham show that 80 per cent of women in Rotherham have taken up screening this year, which is an improvement on 78 per cent two years ago.

Bel O'Leary, NHS Rotherham screening co-ordinator said: " Jade Goody's high-profile battle with cervical cancer has helped dramatically increase the number of women going for screening both locally here in Rotherham, as well as nationally across the country.

"It means more women are now up-to-date with their cervical screening tests, which will save the lives of hundreds of women in the years ahead."

Cervical screening is a method of preventing cervical cancer by detecting abnormal cells in the cervix.

Cervical screening is not a test for cancer, but it is a test to check the health of the cervix.

In the UK, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women under 35 (after breast cancer) and around 2,800 women a year are diagnosed with cervical cancer.

The NHS Cervical Screening Programme aims to reduce the number of women who develop cervical cancer and the number of women who die from the disease.

All women aged between 25 and 64 are invited for cervical screening. Being screened regularly means that any abnormal changes in the cervix can be identified early on and, if necessary, treated to stop cancer developing.

It is estimated that early detection and treatment can prevent up to 75 per cent of cervical cancers from developing.

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