Thousands of women across Sussex are putting their lives at risk by not getting tested for cervical cancer.

Around one in four younger women invited to have a screening have not had one in the last three and a half years.

It means early signs of the disease, which kills around 1,000 people in the UK every year, may not be picked up.

Figures show that of around 272,300 women in the county aged between 25 and 49 who were invited for a test in Sussex, 74% did not take up the offer.

 

MORE:

 

In Brighton and Hove alone, 70% of younger women were screened in the three and a half years to the end of March compared to 72.8 % at the same point the year before.

The reasons for the downturn are believed to be due to a number of factors, such as women believing they don’t need a test, forgetting they have an appointment, or having recently moved away.

Experts also believe the spike in women coming forward was following the death of 27-year-old reality TV star Jade Goody in 2009.

Most cases of cervical cancer are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV).

A HPV vaccine programme has now been introduced for school girls aimed at protecting them against developing the cancer.

However older women who left school before the vaccine programme are still at risk and need to have regular checks.

Brighton and Hove director of public health Tom Scanlon said: “This is an important screening programme that has saved many lives over the years.

“We know that uptake has been lower in younger eligible women and that may in part be due to our transient student population who may have had a smear back at home, or may simply put it off until their return.

“We would urge women to take up the offer of a cervical screen.

“The test has itself been improved in recent years, so recall rates due to inadequacies in the testing as opposed to an abnormal result have fallen dramatically.

“The times to notification have improved substantially so that virtually all women will know their result in two weeks instead of months.

“Cervical cancer can be cured if caught early. This is a programme that saves lives.”

Screenings take place every three years from the age of 25 to 49, and then every five years between 50 and 64.

Visit www.jostrust.org.uk or call 0808 802 8000.