SCOTTISH women have been urged to attend screening for cervical cancer after a fall in tests raised fears the “Jade Goody effect” is fading.
The reality TV star’s high-profile battle against the disease led to a surge in women coming forward to be screened for the disease. But yesterday new figures revealed the number of tests fell by 8 per cent last year. In total, 415,497 smear tests were processed by the NHS in 2009-10.This was a drop of about 35,000 on the previous year.The number of women tested in 2008-09 was the highest in nearly a decade after the publicity over Goody’s fight against the disease. The Big Brother contestant died aged 27 in March last year.
The reality TV star’s high-profile battle against the disease led to a surge in women coming forward to be screened for the disease. But yesterday new figures revealed the number of tests fell by 8 per cent last year. In total, 415,497 smear tests were processed by the NHS in 2009-10.This was a drop of about 35,000 on the previous year.The number of women tested in 2008-09 was the highest in nearly a decade after the publicity over Goody’s fight against the disease. The Big Brother contestant died aged 27 in March last year.
Elspeth Atkinson, of Macmillan Cancer Support Scotland, said: “It is vital that women continue to attend for screening every three years and attend follow-up appointments.”
**Published today in "Scottish Daily Express"
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