Cervical Cancer

The IFPA welcomes the announcement from the National Cancer Screening Service (NCSS) of a national cervical screening service beginning in 2008. This long awaited programme, called CervicalCheck, will allow women aged 25-44 to have a free smear every three years and women aged 45-60 every five years. Such frequency of screens is in line with international best practice guidelines established by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Regular screening can save women’s lives by detecting any abnormalities at an early stage and providing treatment as necessary.

The IFPA recognises the need for a national service that will provide women with the best possible level of care, that will acknowledge the diversity of experiences amongst women and that will respect every woman’s right to the highest attainable standard of health. Cervical cancer is a preventable disease, a disease in which women need not die. A successful, organised screening programme is the first step in a genuine commitment to the eradication of cervical cancer.

Informed by clinical experience and international best practice, the IFPA advocates for a national cervical cancer strategy that incorporates the following elements:

• Cervical cancer control policy that incorporates organised, population-based screening, school based HPV vaccination and public education strategies;
• Prioritisation of the health and well being of all women at all times;
• Recognition that women are entitled to choice with regards to smear takers;
• Targeted initiatives that acknowledge the barriers to screening and prevention related to disability, language, race, nationality, immigration status, sexual orientation, age or geographical location;
• Transparent and publicly available evaluations and monitoring of all elements of the strategy.