Poor ‘more likely to get cervical cancer’

POORER women are twice as likely to develop cervical cancer as those who are better off, according to a report published today.

Professor Mike Richards will present a study to the Britain Against Cancer conference which shows a “deprivation gap”, mainly caused by lower take-up of cervical screening in deprived areas.

The study by the National Cancer Intelligence Network analysed more than 25,000 cases of cervical cancer diagnosed between 1995 and 2004.

The authors took the postcode of each patient and categorised it into one of five groups according to deprivation.

In the poorest areas, 12 women per 100,000 were diagnosed with the disease between 2000 and 2004.

While in Surrey and on the south coast, one of the more affluent areas, only half that number were found to have the illness.

Leeds University Professor David Forman said: “These striking figures show there is still much more that needs to be done to tackle cancer in low-income communities.

“Higher rates of smoking in most deprived areas and the earlier onset of sexual activity also contribute to the higher rates of cervical cancer.”

All women in England aged between 25 and 64 are invited for cervical screening every three to five years, but previous NHS research showed those in deprived areas were 40% less likely to attend.

Sara Hiom, director of health information at Cancer Research UK, said: “It’s extremely worrying that your income and where you live can have such a significant effect on your risk of cancer.”