Why Screen for Cervical Cancer
Cervical cancer is the 11th most common cancer in Scottish women accounting for 2.1% of new cases in women in 2006. There were 291 new cases diagnosed in women in Scotland in 2006 and 105 deaths from the disease in 2007.
Incidence of cervical cancer in Scotland has decreased by 28.6% from 1996 to 2006 and the mortality rate has decreased by over 31.2% from 1997 to 2007.
Cervical Screening Programme
Cervical screening aims to detect and treat abnormal changes in a women's cervix (the neck of the womb) which, if left untreated, may develop into invasive cervical cancer.
The Scottish Cervical Screening Programme has been in place since 1989. All eligable women in Scotland between the ages of 20 and 60 are invited for a cervical smear test every 3 years. These tests are then processed at laboratories throughout Scotland and results are issued to the women's GP. Women with non-negative smears are referred for further investigation and where necessary diagnosis and treatment (colposcopy).
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