Study reveals half of deaths from disease happen in women over 65

June 15, 2015 5:41 PM

A British medical journal has reported that half of the deaths that occur from cervical cancer happen in women over 65 years.

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This nullifies the perception that cervical cancer is a disease of the young.

The campaign argued that the age limit for cervical screening should be raised to 70 and older women should be targeted in health campaigns.

According to the report, there was an average of 449 deaths from cervical cancer in over-65s and 7 in under 25s between 2010 and 2012.

Although cervical cancer is the most common cancer in women under 35, it continues to affect women of all ages.

Lead report author Dr Sue Sherman, senior lecturer in psychology at Keele University, said the figures suggest that older women are not getting themselves screened to prevent cervical cancer.

Speaking on the disease sreening and prevention, Prof Julietta Patnick, director of the NHS cancer screening programmes, said:

"The natural history of cervical cancer means that it is unlikely that women of 65 and over who have been regularly screened and discharged from the programme will go on to develop the disease."