Invasive cancer of the cervix: does the UK National Health Service screening programme fail due to patients' non-attendance?

The UK National Health Service (NHS) cervical screening programme aims to prevent invasive cancer of the cervix, yet this programme fails in some women. Women diagnosed with cancer of the cervix at a colposcopy unit in the North East of England between April 1, 1997 and December 31, 2004 had cervical cytology histories classified. Thirty-seven cases were identified (median age 37 years; range 22-72 years). At six months before diagnosis, 24.3% had never undergone cytology screening (38.4% Stage IB+, 12.5% Stage IA). In addition, 59.5% of all cases were under-screened (when using criteria that included screening was 'up to date' if less than five years had elapsed between last negative test result and their diagnosis). Women in this case series failed to attend regular cervical screening, with those never attending screening more likely to present with advanced cancer.