Lower the age for smear tests

themull1

Im nearly 46, and 30 years ago, all women got offered a smear when they became sexually active. I was 16.

j.e.j.

As has already been discussed, screening asymptomatic women under the age of 25 does not routinely occur for clinical reasons, largely because of the high risk of false positives.

JemmaM91

I'm sorry but I'm also another one who thinks screening should stay at 25.

I do however think younger women should be allowed one if they have symptoms and request one.

Lowering the age limit would cause far too many false positives which will then cost the NHS loads in unnecessary biopsies and treatment.

Although I'm 22 and have had the HPV vaccination. So I probably am less worried than others who have not been vaccinated.

rpc

nettienoo70 wrote: »

any woman who is suffering from symptoms such as these should have the choice to rule out any possibility of it being Cancer related.

Why should it be the choice of a woman who is not medically educated? Surely doctors are best placed to evaluate symptoms and determine which diagnostic tests should be carried out?

What you are suggesting is that anyone should entitled to demand tests for all sorts of cancers when there is no medical indication. Where do you draw the line? Huge amounts of wasted resources and a large number of false positives to wreck people's lives. It isn't even a vaguely sensible proposition.

Doctors sometimes get it wrong for a variety of reasons, but that doesn't mean that clinical guidelines need changed.

supersaver2 wrote: »

What is the age smear tests are offered to women in Scotland and Wales? I'm sure I read it was 21 years old? Can't check at the moment as I'm on my phone!

In Scotland, it either has been raised or will be raised to 25 in keeping in line with the large body of scientific evidence.

supersaver2

rpc wrote: »

Why should it be the choice of a woman who is not medically educated? Surely doctors are best placed to evaluate symptoms and determine which diagnostic tests should be carried out?

What you are suggesting is that anyone should entitled to demand tests for all sorts of cancers when there is no medical indication. Where do you draw the line? Huge amounts of wasted resources and a large number of false positives to wreck people's lives. It isn't even a vaguely sensible proposition.

Doctors sometimes get it wrong for a variety of reasons, but that doesn't mean that clinical guidelines need changed.



In Scotland, it either has been raised or will be raised to 25 in keeping in line with the large body of scientific evidence.

Could you possibly provide a link to show that the age has/will be increased please. I've had a look and can't see anything to suggest Scotland or Wales will be increasing the age they ask women to have their first smear test. Scotland and Wales currently invite women
from 20 years old, England and NI from 25 years old.

I'm sure there are plenty of women reading these forums in Scotland and Wales and they should have the most update information available.

paulineb_2

Still 20 in Scotland, going to be raised to 25 next year.

securityguy

supersaver2 wrote: »

Could you possibly provide a link to show that the age has/will be increased please.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-20666847

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/health/age-for-first-smear-test-raised-to-25-x.19644694

http://www.scotsman.com/news/health/age-for-first-smear-tests-raised-to-25-in-scotland-1-2684832

http://www.jostrust.org.uk/about-cervical-cancer/cervical-screening-smear-test-and-abnormal-cells/cervical-screening-in-the-uk

floralaura

It used to be 17 in Wales.,I had my first at 18 and it was abnormal, my 2nd at 21 which was OK and my 3rd at 24 which as me back CINIII. I had to have treatment to a largeish area of cervix to get rid of all affected cells via cone biospy. Since then I have had yearly smears and all been OK. Also since then I have carried, to term a 10lb and a 9lb Baby with no cervical issues luckily.
I do think that testing should be available to those with symptoms, however I know here in England a sample was sent off for a friend with irregular bleeding..it was discarded as she was 23. Then she had to go private, fortunately it was OK..but had it not have been would that be OK due to the rareness of it Being full blown cancer? Samples are being discarded when the DOB is not making the woman the correct asge even when the sample has been taken on as GP's say so! It does need looking at and possibly changing IMO.

teaandcakeordeath

I'm sure that everyone has the utmost sympathy for this young woman and her family's loss. It must be heartbreaking for them but this e-petition is ill advised at best, at worst it could have real and serious consequences for young women needlessly given further examination and treatment. The wording of the petition calls for the smear age to be lowered to 16- not that younger women can request one.

Please, please, please read this, it's the gold standard of what doctors should do when young women (20 -24) present with abnormal/ post coital bleeding symptoms (the most indicative symptom of cervical cancer).

http://www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk/cervical/publications/doh-guidelines-young-women.pdf

For those interested this protocol also has a link to the cervical cancer mortality statistics kept by cancer research- the most up to date of which are for 2009-11

http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/prod_consump/idcplg?IdcService=GET_FILE&dDocName=DEATHS_CRUDE_CERVIX_PDF&RevisionSelectionMethod=LatestReleased&allowInterrupt=1

To sum it up- no doctor in the country is recommended to offer a smear to a young woman experiencing the above symptoms- history should be taken, an internal physical exam should be performed, abnormal cervical appearance warrants an urgent referral for colonoscopy within two weeks, lesions and polyps get a non-urgent referral to a gynaecologist and no obvious changes results in pregnancy test, sti screen, treatment etc.

Clearly in this young woman's case this protocol was not followed- either at all, or in a prompt enough manner. Simply put a kneejerk reaction to a tragic case and an emotive subject (young adult/ cancer) will not bring her back- or save anyone else from her fate.

koan_2

j.e.j. wrote: »

The story's on Yahoo, I think.

Yes, I see the family are now posting photos of the girl on the internet when she was ill with her cancer. Shock tactics from a grief-stricken family, and predictably there's a lot of knee-jerk responses from people reading the story on Yahoo, screaming for the age to be lowered.

I do hope the age of screening does not get lowered simply because of a public outcry about this one unfortunate case.