Screening Row

One of the biggest topics in the news currently is the issue of cervical cancer. I have decided to base my blog on current issues in the news.

Campaigners are fighting for the age limit for a screening test to be brought back down to 20. The system was changed in 2004 when the government raised the age to 25 for women in England, this was after a study completed by cancer research UK found that cases of cervical cancer in teenagers is very rare. Does this mean women in England are less at risk than those who live in Scotland or Wales? This is clearly a very risky view on the whole situation.

The issue has recently been brought to light by Jade Goody. She was told just weeks ago that her cervical cancer is terminal. Jade developed early symptoms at the age of 23, 2 years short of the current age restriction for the NHS screening test. Time is everything when it comes to treatment and sadly the cancer was discovered too late for it to be beaten. Meaning that if Jade was in fact from Scotland or Wales the cancer could of been discovered three years earlier, this could even have saved the young mother's life.

Under pressure from the whole situation ministers have now promised to review the evidence again and consider lowering the age limit for the tests. Health minister Ann Keen said: "If we in the house of commons mean anything, it's our duty to look at the evidence again." After all how can women's health in different countries controlled by the same government be of different value?

Following the devastating news of Jade's condition her long term boyfriend Jack Tweed proposed and the couple married a fortnight later on Sunday 22nd February. Jade has two sons five year old Bobby and four year old Freddie. Unsure of how much time she may have left, Jade said: "I will be watching my boys from heaven. I've told my family I will be the brightest star."