MEPs debate the lowering of the cervix smear test as a result of a dying mother's request



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HMP Elen Jones, Chair of the Petitions Committee, will open the debate on Monday afternoon.

Last September, the government issued a statement in which it thanked Ms. Sale for her outreach work.

But he added that the government had accepted the recommendation of the UK National Screening Committee that the first invitation to cervical cancer screening should be offered at age 25, based on the evaluation of evidence provided by the research.

According to the NHS, although HPV infection – related to cervical cancer – is very common in women under 25 years old, their immune system often eliminates infection, from so that the abnormal cells return to normal.

The debate will give members the opportunity to directly question a minister on this topic.

Last week, the prime minister urged women eligible for cervical cancer screening to submit to controls, while their participation rate was at its lowest level in 21 years.

Ms. May said she understood that the tests could be "uncomfortable" and even "painful", but asked all women to make sure they accept the test offer.

She said: "As Prime Minister, I can speak and say this: I know what it's like to have a cervical smear.

"It is not comfortable. Sometimes, for some, it will be embarrbading, sometimes painful, but these few minutes can save lives, so I encourage all women to get tested.

In March, Public Health England (PHE) will launch a national campaign to highlight risks and encourage more women to be controlled.

The PHE campaign, Be Clear On Cancer, comes almost ten years after the death of Jade Goody on March 22, 2009. The star of reality TV, barely 27 years old, missed many appointments with a test of smeared while she had already got abnormal results. His death initially led to an increase in the number of participants in the smudge test, known as the "Jade Goody Effect".

However, the latest NHS Digital figures indicate that only 71% of women are up-to-date on screening, with around five million behind.

This figure rose to a high of 75.7% in 2011, two years after the death of Miss Goody, and reached its lowest rate since records began. Charity Jo's Trust says that the fall is partly due to embarrbadment and the lack of convenient appointments with general practitioners

Screening has saved about 5,000 lives in the UK each year by detecting abnormal cells before they become cancerous.

The campaign will also highlight the risk factors for cervical cancer, including badually transmitted HPV infection, smoking, and taking the pill. It is the most common form of cancer among women under 35, with 3,000 new cases in the UK each year and 1,000 deaths. The test is offered every three years to women aged 25 to 49, then every five years for women aged 50 to 64. It looks for abnormal precancerous cells in the cervix that can be removed before they become harmful.

About one in 20 women have abnormal cells, but not all of them need to have them removed surgically.

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