Cancer Screening Vital To Women's Health - Teather

5.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 9th May 2007

Sarah is urging local women to have regular cancer screenings

Local Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East, Sarah Teather, has expressed her deep concern at new figures showing that almost half the older women in Brent have not been screened for breast cancer in the last three years.

The figures, revealed by the Liberal Democrats, show that just 52.9% of Brent women aged 50 to 70 were screened for breast cancer in the last three years. This means that in an age group who have the highest risk of developing abreast cancer, almost half are not getting the screening they are eligible for.

The number of breast cancer cases has soared by 80 per cent since 1971, with one in nine women developing the disease.

It has been suggested that reasons for low take-up of screening include inconvenient appointments and London's highly mobile population, which means some women slip through the net. Women from more deprived or ethnic minority communities are less likely to go for screening.

Sarah has called on the Government to launch a public awareness campaign so that all Brent women get the potentially life-saving check ups to which they are entitled.

Local Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East Sarah Teather said:

"Early detection of breast cancer is vital. In conjunction with self-examination these tests are crucial, particularly for women over 50.

"I was extremely concerned to hear that almost half the women in Brent are not taking up the screening to which they are entitled. This is further evidence of Londoners getting a raw deal on health.

"There is no point in running a service like this if people are not aware that it exists. The government must redouble its efforts to make more women aware of the breast cancer screening service."

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Read Lynne Featherstone's question in parliament.