Screening younger women harm risk
IN response to Jo Davison's plea for screening women under 25 for cervical cancer, I would like to make the following points:
The NHS Cervical Screening Programme in England is evidence-based and the research suggests that screening younger women would do more harm than good. This is because changes in the young cervix are normal and common. If they were thought to be abnormal this could lead to overtreatment and would have consequences for a woman's later childbearing.
The review of the starting age was undertaken in response to political pressure and the expert advisory committee decided the policy of starting screening at 25 was correct. The committee also agreed to encourage GPs to refer women with symptoms of cervical cancer (for example, unexplained bleeding) to a gynaecologist for specialist advice and treatment.
Catherine M Davison, Information manager, NHS Cancer Screening Programmes
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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