Local resident Jade Goody's high-profile battle with cervical cancer has led an extra 400,000 more women to be screened for the disease in the past year. A report released by the NHS Information Centre this week shows the number of women aged 25-64 having smear tests rose by 12% from 3.2 million to 3.6 million. The number of women being tested had been falling and this is the first rise since 2002. The most significant increase was among the younger age groups, clearly highlighting the effect Jade Goody‘s experience has had. As well as smear tests girls aged 12 and 13 now receive the HPV vaccine in school which provides protection against getting cervical cancer later in life.
Jade, 27, was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2008 and died in March this year
after the disease spread to her bowel, liver and groin. Before she died she spoke about the importance of the screening procedure which is thought to save around 4,500 lives a year in England.Health Secretary, Andy Burnham MP said: "Jade's bravery and openness in her fight against cervical cancer has brought home to young women across the country the importance of regularly going for these checks.”
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