Date Published:
27 February 2008 |
Alarming confusion about cancer screening
Less than one in five people can name the three cancers screened for
by the
NHS screening programme - according to recent data.
The Cancer Research UK survey of more than 4,150 people revealed that only
16% could correctly identify breast, cervical, and bowel cancer as
the three cancers currently screened for by the NHS.
Publication of the data comes as Cancer Research UK continues its call for
the government and the NHS to further improve screening services. The charity's "Screening
Matters" campaign aims to raise awareness of cancer screening and help
increase uptake of the services.
Recognition among women for the breast screening programme was 94% – but
less than 60% of women knew about cervical screening. Knowledge of
bowel cancer screening was lowest with only 25% of people aware of
the programme.
Screening plays a vital role in improving the outcome of cancer treatment
by detecting cancer early or picking up changes before cancer develops.
Breast cancer screening in England is estimated to prevent around 1,400 deaths
from breast cancer yearly. Figures for the cervical screening programme in
England show that around 4,500 deaths per year are prevented. Researchers have
also calculated that there will be 20,000 fewer deaths from bowel cancer over
the next 20 years thanks to the roll-out of the bowel cancer screening programme.
In England the number of eligible women attending cervical smear tests improved
from just above 40% in 1989 to 82% in 1995. Recent figures
show this rate has fallen to 79%.
Almost 75% of women aged 50 or older who were invited for breast
screening accepted their invitation in the year 2005/6. Research from the bowel
cancer
screening programme shows that around 57% of people who are sent screening
kits will take part.
The Screening Matters campaigns aims to clear up any confusion about cancer
screening and increase the number of people participating in screening. With
more people attending screening more cancer deaths will be prevented.
Professor Stephen Duffy, Cancer Research UK's professor of screening, said:
" The
uncertainty around what is screened for could be from a range of reasons. Lack
of knowledge of the bowel cancer screening programme may be because the programme
only recently began and is not yet available across the UK. There may be confusion
that what is commonly called a smear test is a cervical screening test to detect
abnormal cells before they become cancerous. Whatever the reasons may be, more
work needs to be done to improve the awareness and understanding of cancer
screening across the UK."
The NHS breast and cervical screening programmes began in 1988. The new bowel
cancer screening programme began last year. This programme is currently being
rolled out across the UK inviting men and women between 60 and 69 in England
with nationwide coverage being reached by 2009.
Sara Hiom, Cancer Research UK's director of health information, said:
" Cancer
screening saves lives but we know it could save even more. Screening is vital
in detecting cancer early and also preventing it. These results highlight a
worrying lack of awareness about what cancers are screened for. Our concern
is that this confusion may mean that some people may not take up their invitation
to take part in cancer screening. We urge everyone to go for screening when
invited – it could save your life."
Cancer Research UK
Together with its partners and supporters, Cancer Research UK's vision is
to beat cancer.
*
Cancer Research UK carries out world-class research to improve
understanding of the disease and find out how to prevent, diagnose and treat
different kinds
of cancer.
* Cancer Research UK ensures that its findings are used to improve the lives
of all cancer patients.
* Cancer Research UK helps people to understand cancer, the progress that is
being made and the choices each person can make.
* Cancer Research UK works in partnership with others to achieve the greatest
impact in the global fight against cancer.
For further information about Cancer Research UK's work or to find out how
to support the charity, please call 020 7009 8820 or visit their website (link
at bottom of this page).
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not necessarily those of IvyRose Ltd.. Material in this news item was released
by
Cancer Research UK on
27 February 2008 and may have been edited (e.g. in style, length,
and/or for ease of understanding
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