Bupa reveals almost a third of UK women have never undergone any type of health screening

Bupa has revealed that almost a third of women in the UK* (29%) say they have never been for any type of health screening, including cervical screening, which is vital in detecting abnormal, pre-cancerous cells which may lead to cervical cancer.

Around 2,900 women in the UK are diagnosed with cervical cancer (http://www.bupa.co.uk/individuals/health-information/directory/c/cervical-cancer ) every year. However, it is one of the most preventable cancers, with deaths from the disease having fallen over the last 25 years, precisely because of large numbers of women undergoing cervical screenings. Many women are put off going for a screening owing to a lack of information on what it involves and anxiety about dealing with abnormal results. To help, Bupa is offering advice on the subject.

Dr Katrina Herren, Medical Director, Bupa Health and Wellbeing, said: "Cervical screening detects pre-cancerous cells which can develop into cervical cancer (http://www.bupa.co.uk/individuals/health-information/cancer ). Early detection of pre-cancerous cells is vitally important in preventing cervical cancer so if your test does detect these abnormal cells, don't panic. It means that the cells which could develop into the cancer have been detected and can be monitored closely or treated to prevent them developing into cancer."

A cervical screening is a simple procedure carried out by a doctor or qualified nurse which can detect pre-cancerous cells inside the cervix which can develop into cervical cancer. Early detection of changes to cervical cells is vitally important in minimising the impact of the disease, which is why all women over the age of 25 are encouraged to have cervical screens.

A cervical smear test is just one of the tests included in Bupa's female health assessment (http://www.bupa.co.uk/individuals/health-assessments/female-health ). For women who are primarily concerned with their breast and gynaecological health, Bupa Female Health offers a thorough check and the opportunity to discuss any health concerns you have. This 60 minute assessment focuses on the early detection of breast and gynaecological conditions as well as other health risks such as diabetes.

For more information about cervical cancer and screenings please visit: www.bupa.co.uk/individuals/health-information/directory/c/cervical-cancer.

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Notes to Editors:
*Data taken from Bupa Health Pulse 2011. Research carried out by Ipsos MORI between 22nd April and 23rd May 2011 on 1021 women (aged 18+) in the UK.

The Bupa Female Health Assessment is provided by Bupa Insurance Limited. Registered in England and Wales No. 3956433. Bupa Insurance Service Limited. Registered in England and Wales No. 3829851. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Registered office: Bupa House, 15-19 Bloomsbury Way, London, WC1A 2BA.

About Bupa
Bupa's purpose is to help people live longer, healthier, happier lives.

A leading international healthcare group, Bupa offers personal and company health insurance (http://www.bupa.co.uk/individuals/health-insurance ), runs care homes for older people and hospitals and provides workplace health services, health assessments and chronic disease management services, including health coaching, and home healthcare.

With no shareholders, Bupa is able to invest profits to provide more and better healthcare. It is committed to making quality, patient-centred, affordable healthcare more accessible in the areas of wellness, chronic disease management and ageing.

Employing nearly 52,000 people, Bupa has operations around the world, principally in the UK, Australia, Spain, New Zealand and the USA, as well as Hong Kong, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, India, China and across Latin America.

PR Contact:
Sarah Andrews
Freud Communications
55 Newman Street
London
W1T 3EB
+44(0) 20 3003 6587
www.bupa.co.uk

This release was published on openPR.