“Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer after breast cancer affecting women aged 15-44 in the EU. Each year there are approximately 15,000 deaths in the EU yet virtually all of these deaths are preventable if women are regularly screened”. This was stated by Marian Harkin MEP when she signed the ‘Stop Cervical Cancer’ petition in the European Parliament in Brussels today, Tuesday, January 22nd.

She continued: “We want to raise awareness among women about the fact that cervical cancer can be prevented.  Indeed the slogan for European Cervical Cancer Prevention Week which runs from the 20th – 26th January is “Cervical Cancer Can Be Prevented – Pass On This Pearl Of Wisdom”.  In Ireland we are still awaiting the roll out of the National Cancer Cervical Screening Programme which was due to start in January 2008 and it is crucial that this service commences as soon as possible.  Our mortality rate for cervical cancer is above the European average for the EU 15, according to figures published for 2002 and this is totally unacceptable.

“In short we need to get the message across to women that cervical cancer can be prevented and women must be able to access the smear test and rapid results which can save their lives, Marian Harkin concluded.