Cervical cancer
Many deaths from cervical cancer can be prevented through timely screening; detection and treatment of precancerous lesions found during a cervical smear test can actually prevent cervical cancer, as well as find cervical cancer at an early stage when it is most curable.
Currently in the UK, all women between the ages of 20 and 64 are eligible for an NHS cervical smear test every three to five years. The screening interval will vary between Health authorities. The screening programme starts at 20 because cervical cancer is very rare before this age and so, under 20, regular smear tests are not necessary. The programme stops at 64 for women whose last 3 smears were normal – Department of Health guidelines state that these women are very unlikely to go on to develop cervical cancer after this age. Women over 64 who have had abnormal smears, will continue to be invited for regular smears in the normal way.
