Why Screen for Cervical Cancer
Cervical cancer is the 11th most common cancer in Scottish women accounting for 2.1% of female cancer cases in 2009. There were 326 new cases diagnosed in women in Scotland in 2009 and 99 deaths from the disease in 2009.
Incidence of cervical cancer in Scotland has increased by 1.4% from 1999 to 2009 and the mortality rate has decreased by 17.7% from 2000 to 2010.
Cervical Screening Programme
Cervical screening aims to detect and treat abnormal changes in a women's cervix (the neck of the womb) which, if left untreated, may develop into invasive cervical cancer.
The Scottish Cervical Screening Programme has been in place since 1989. All eligible women in Scotland between the ages of 20 and 60 are invited for cervical screening every 3 years. These tests are then processed at laboratories throughout Scotland and results are issued to the women's GP. Women with non-negative results are referred for further investigation and where necessary diagnosis and treatment (colposcopy).
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