Cervical cancer is not just a young woman's disease

Redman, CW; Sherman, S; Castanon, A; Moss, E

doi:10.1136/bmj.h2729

Cervical cancer is not just a young woman's disease

Redman, CW; Sherman, S; Castanon, A; Moss, E

Authors

CW Redman

Dr Susan Sherman s.m.sherman@keele.ac.uk

A Castanon

E Moss

Abstract

Cervical screening programmes in many countries stop at around the age of 65 and much of the focus is often on younger women. For example, recent media campaigns in England and Wales have centred on lowering the age at first screening. Comparatively little attention has been given to older women despite the fact that they account for about a fifth of cases each year and half of deaths.1 2 Of the 3121 women diagnosed on average each year between 2009 and 2011 in the UK, only 64 were younger than 25 compared with 616 who were older than 65.1 As the population ages, this number of older women affected is set to increase. We argue that screening programmes should reflect this.

Acceptance Date	Apr 21, 2015
Publication Date	Jun 15, 2015
Journal	BMJ
Print ISSN	0959-8138
Publisher	BMJ Publishing Group
Pages	h2729 -?
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.h2729
Publisher URL	https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.h2729