- In last 10 years, women aged 25 -29 with cervical cancer soared by 59.2%
- But last year one million women failed to turn up for their smear tests
- Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust has launched
Georgia May Jagger has added her famous pout to a new social media campaign where women smear lipstick across their faces.
The
supermodel posted a picture of herself with pink paint smudged across
her chin this afternoon and nominated her model friends Cara Delevingne
and Suki Waterhouse to follow suit.
The
#smearforsmear campaign is being run by Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust and
aims to raise awareness about the disease among young women.
Georgia May Jagger posted a smudged
lipstick selfie today with the hashtag #smearforsmear. The picture is in
aid of Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust
The
trust, which is the largest cervical cancer charity in the UK, has
launched the campaign following reports that the number of young women
diagnosed with cervical cancer has soared in the last decade, as new
figures reveal more than one million failed to attend smear tests last
year.
Over the last 10 years, cases of the disease in women aged 25 to 29 have soared by 59.2 per cent.
Meanwhile in the last year rates have risen 4.8 per cent, as one million women failed to attend smear test appointments.
Eight women in the UK are diagnosed each day and cervical cancer is the most common form of the disease in under 35s.
A
leading charity is today urging women to ensure they attend their
regular smear tests, raising concerns that the uptake of screening has
fallen to an all-time low.
While
some women admit they are too embarrassed to go for screening tests,
others said they are concerned it will be painful, while some said they
don't think the tests are necessary.
Jo's
Cervical Cancer Trust has today launched the #SmearForSmear campaign to
encourage more women to make sure they attend regular smear tests
The campaign, launched at the start of
Cervical Cancer Prevention Week, comes as new figures reveal the number
of women aged 25 to 35 with the disease has soared in the last decade,
while one million women missed their smear test appointments last year
Jo's
Cervical Cancer Trust said in the last year 33.7 per cent of 25 to 29
year olds failed to have their scheduled smear test, while 22.3 per cent
of 30 to 34 year olds missed their appointment.
Across
the UK more than one in five of all women invited for screening fails
to attend, with uptake falling below 78 per cent (77.8 per cent) for the
first time in more than 20 years.
Among women aged 25 to 29 smear test uptake has fallen from 78 per cent in 1999 to 66.3 per cent last year.
Figures
from the Office for National Statistics shows the number of women aged
under 35 and diagnosed with the disease in England rose by 3.98 per cent
in the last year, and 33.1 per cent over the last 10 years.
To
mark Cervical Cancer Prevention Week, this week, Jo's Cervical Cancer
Trust is urging the public to join their #SmearForSmear social media
campaign.
Raising
awareness of the importance of regular screening, the campaign
encourages people to help stop the rise in the number of women diagnosed
with the disease.
A
survey by the charity found 20 per cent of young women believe cervical
screening tests are unnecessary, while 26.2 per cent are put off having
a smear over concerns it will be painful.
Across the
UK more than one in five of all women invited for screening fails to
attend, with uptake falling below 78 per cent (77.8 per cent) for the
first time in more than 20 years. Maddy and Fran from the charity take
part and show their support for the #SmearForSmear campaign
Meanwhile 26.6 per cent refuse the life-saving test, letting their embarrassment get the better of them.
The
charity has also raised concerns over a lack of knowledge with more
than half of young women unable to identify the cause of cervical cancer
as the human papillomavirus (HPV).
One
in 10 women believe smear tests detect sexually transmitted infections,
while 13.5 per cent thought it was a test for ovarian cancer.
The charity's chief executive Robin Music, said screening remains the best preventative measure in combating the disease.
'Every day we see the devastating impact a cervical cancer diagnosis can have on both a woman and her loved ones,' he said.
'But to know that for those that delayed their screening before diagnosis, this could have been prevented, is tragic.
'It's
now time that we see an upward shift in awareness of cervical cancer
and an understanding of the importance of smear tests.'
Professor
Julietta Patnick, Director of the NHS Cancer Screening Programmes,
managed by Public Health England (PHE), said: 'It is evident that women
in this younger age group still need encouragement to be screened and
PHE is working hard to address this with research underway to
investigate new ways of improving cervical screening uptake among
younger women.
'Regular
attendance at screening remains the top preventative measure against
cervical cancer and we would encourage all women to make the decision to
attend when invited.'
Mr Music added: 'We hope the public get fully behind this fun and simple campaign.
'The
more women who take this life saving five minute test, the fewer who
will face infertility, early menopause, more extensive long term effects
and potentially even loss of life.
'It's time we all acted as it may just save a life.'
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