Cervical Screening
· The aim of the cervical screening programme is to reduce the incidence of, and morbidity and mortality from, invasive cervical cancer.
· It is not a test for cancer, but for pre-cancerous changes in the cervix (the neck of the womb) that can often be treated before cancer develops.
· Women aged between 24 years and 6 months old and 50 years old will be invited every 3 years
· Women who are aged between 50 and 64 on or after 1st September 2013 will be invited for screening every five years rather than every three years
· Cervical cancer often has no symptoms in the early stages and so it is important to attend screening appointments on time.
· Otherwise known as ‘the smear test,’ it is a way of looking at cells from the cervix (neck of the womb) to pick up abnormalities that might become a cancer in the future. A sample of cells is taken from the cervix using a soft brush. The sample is put into a pot
of liquid and sent to the laboratory. This is called liquid based cytology (LBC). At the laboratory, the sample is prepared and put onto a slide. The cells can then be examined by a screener. Most cells are normal, but about 1 in 12 women will have an abnormal result
· See http://www.cervicalscreeningwales.wales.nhs.uk for more information
· The aim of the cervical screening programme is to reduce the incidence of, and morbidity and mortality from, invasive cervical cancer.
· It is not a test for cancer, but for pre-cancerous changes in the cervix (the neck of the womb) that can often be treated before cancer develops.
· Women aged between 24 years and 6 months old and 50 years old will be invited every 3 years
· Women who are aged between 50 and 64 on or after 1st September 2013 will be invited for screening every five years rather than every three years
· Cervical cancer often has no symptoms in the early stages and so it is important to attend screening appointments on time.
· Otherwise known as ‘the smear test,’ it is a way of looking at cells from the cervix (neck of the womb) to pick up abnormalities that might become a cancer in the future. A sample of cells is taken from the cervix using a soft brush. The sample is put into a pot
of liquid and sent to the laboratory. This is called liquid based cytology (LBC). At the laboratory, the sample is prepared and put onto a slide. The cells can then be examined by a screener. Most cells are normal, but about 1 in 12 women will have an abnormal result
· See http://www.cervicalscreeningwales.wales.nhs.uk for more information