Menu
22/10/2003
Drive for 'more reliable' cervical cancer testing unveiled
The government has announced a £7.2 million package over the next two years to help create a "new, more reliable technique" for screening women for cervical cancer.
The announcement follows a recommendation from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) that the NHS should introduce the more accurate Liquid Based Cytology (LBC) technique. This "more advanced technique" means that smear test for cervical cancer are easier to read, and more accurate at detecting early signs of the disease. It is hoped that the LCB process will "dramatically reduce" the numbers of women who have to be retested.
Public Health Minister Melanie Johnson said: "At the moment up to 300,000 women a year have to have their smear test redone because it cannot be read properly. This of course causes real anxiety and uncertainty. This new technique will reduce the numbers of women who have to have their smear test repeated from 1 in 10 to 1 in 100.
"We are using this opportunity to modernise the entire cervical screening programme and standardise the service around the country."
Speaking at the Britain Against Cancer Conference today Miss Johnson also announced the next major step to ready the NHS for bowel cancer screening. Three national and seven regional endoscopy training centres will be established across the country to increase the numbers of staff trained to carry out this crucial diagnostic procedure.
The minister said that the NHS now has a "world-leading programme" of services to help people stop smoking and since 2000 over 300,000 people have been helped to quit for at least four weeks.
Screening has contributed to fall in deaths of over 20% from breast cancer and the extension of the breast screening programme to women aged 65-70 means 150,000 more women are being invited for screening. Once the roll out is complete an additional 400,000 women will be invited for screening, a 40% increase in the service.
Over 98% of people with suspected cancer who are urgently referred by their GP are now seen by a specialist within two weeks.
An extra £50 million has been allocated for palliative care which has enabled cancer networks to invest in 70 additional consultants in palliative medicine, 162 more clinical nurse specialists and extra Marie Curie nurses.
(gmcg)
The announcement follows a recommendation from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) that the NHS should introduce the more accurate Liquid Based Cytology (LBC) technique. This "more advanced technique" means that smear test for cervical cancer are easier to read, and more accurate at detecting early signs of the disease. It is hoped that the LCB process will "dramatically reduce" the numbers of women who have to be retested.
Public Health Minister Melanie Johnson said: "At the moment up to 300,000 women a year have to have their smear test redone because it cannot be read properly. This of course causes real anxiety and uncertainty. This new technique will reduce the numbers of women who have to have their smear test repeated from 1 in 10 to 1 in 100.
"We are using this opportunity to modernise the entire cervical screening programme and standardise the service around the country."
Speaking at the Britain Against Cancer Conference today Miss Johnson also announced the next major step to ready the NHS for bowel cancer screening. Three national and seven regional endoscopy training centres will be established across the country to increase the numbers of staff trained to carry out this crucial diagnostic procedure.
The minister said that the NHS now has a "world-leading programme" of services to help people stop smoking and since 2000 over 300,000 people have been helped to quit for at least four weeks.
Screening has contributed to fall in deaths of over 20% from breast cancer and the extension of the breast screening programme to women aged 65-70 means 150,000 more women are being invited for screening. Once the roll out is complete an additional 400,000 women will be invited for screening, a 40% increase in the service.
Over 98% of people with suspected cancer who are urgently referred by their GP are now seen by a specialist within two weeks.
An extra £50 million has been allocated for palliative care which has enabled cancer networks to invest in 70 additional consultants in palliative medicine, 162 more clinical nurse specialists and extra Marie Curie nurses.
(gmcg)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
30 October 2012
Breast Cancer Screening Leads To 'Over Diagnoses'
Women are to be nformed over breast cancer screening issues in the UK after a review highlights the potential harms of being tested. The review panel, led by Prof Michael Marmot, from University College London, found screening had "contributed to reducing deaths" but also "resulted in some overdiagnosis".
Breast Cancer Screening Leads To 'Over Diagnoses'
Women are to be nformed over breast cancer screening issues in the UK after a review highlights the potential harms of being tested. The review panel, led by Prof Michael Marmot, from University College London, found screening had "contributed to reducing deaths" but also "resulted in some overdiagnosis".
24 July 2007
Cancer test kit 'could lead to 20,000 fewer deaths'
Deaths from bowel cancer could be dramatically reduced if people use a self-testing kit being sent to people in their sixties throughout the country, a cancer charity has predicted.
Cancer test kit 'could lead to 20,000 fewer deaths'
Deaths from bowel cancer could be dramatically reduced if people use a self-testing kit being sent to people in their sixties throughout the country, a cancer charity has predicted.
02 July 2003
Charity outlines guidelines for cervical screenings
All women aged between 25 and 49 should be offered cervical screening every three years – but five years is regular enough for women aged 50 to 64 – according to a new report by Cancer Research UK.
Charity outlines guidelines for cervical screenings
All women aged between 25 and 49 should be offered cervical screening every three years – but five years is regular enough for women aged 50 to 64 – according to a new report by Cancer Research UK.
17 June 2009
Wealth And Ethnicity 'Linked To Whether Women Have Breast And Cervical Screening'
White British women are more likely to have had a cervical screening and there is more chance that women who own a car and/or home have had a mammogram, according to research published on bmj.com today.
Wealth And Ethnicity 'Linked To Whether Women Have Breast And Cervical Screening'
White British women are more likely to have had a cervical screening and there is more chance that women who own a car and/or home have had a mammogram, according to research published on bmj.com today.
22 April 2009
Breast Cancer Deaths At Record Low
The number of women dying from breast cancer has fallen to its lowest level since records began, new figures have shown. The data released by Cancer Research UK show that in 2007, 11,990 women in Britain died from breast cancer. In 1941 - the first year statistics were collected - 12,472 women died from the disease.
Breast Cancer Deaths At Record Low
The number of women dying from breast cancer has fallen to its lowest level since records began, new figures have shown. The data released by Cancer Research UK show that in 2007, 11,990 women in Britain died from breast cancer. In 1941 - the first year statistics were collected - 12,472 women died from the disease.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Bright spells with a few showers continuing through this evening. Some drier, clearer periods in the early hours, before cloud builds and showers turn more persistent towards dawn. Minimum temperature 4 °C.
