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UK: Cervical cancer cases have grown by a third in ten years as the number of women having smear tests is falling.
The number of women below the age of 35 diagnosed with the disease rose from 500 in 2002, to 727 in 2012, according to statistics obtained by Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust.
The charity has said the increase may be because of a decline in eligible women having smear tests, particularly younger women.
Cervical cancer kills 1,000 British women each year, but more than a million women failed to take up the offer of a smear test in 2013-14, the charity says.
A quarter believed it would be "painful" and "embarrassing", with a further 20 per cent wrongly believing it was "medically unnecessary", according to NHS figures published in the Metro.
Robert Music, chief executive of the Trust, said: "Every day we see the devastating impact a cervical cancer diagnosis can have on both a woman and her loved ones.
"But to know that, for those that delayed their screening before diagnosis, this could have been prevented is tragic.
"It's now time that we see an upward shift in awareness of cervical cancer and an understanding of the importance of smear tests."
The worrying figures have been released during Cancer Awareness Week and Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust is calling on women to post a selfie of themselves with smeared lipstick on on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram as part of their #smearforsmear campaign.
The aim of the campaign is to encourage women to attend their smear test in a bid to prevent more lives being lost to the disease.
Family and friends of "beautiful and inspirational" Sorcha Glenn are tweeting their #smearforsmear selfies in memory of the 23-year-old who died following a 13 month battle with cervical cancer.
They have collected nearly 60,000 signatures calling on the government to allow any woman to be given a smear test on resquest, regardless of age.
Her campaigners say Sorcha had initially asked for a smear test in June 2013 but was refused based on age. After experiencing symptoms, Sorcha managed to get a smear test and was diagnosed in September 2013.
All women aged between 25 and 64 are invited for cervical screening every three to five years.
The procedure is used to detect abnormal cells which, if left untreated, could lead to cancer in the cervix.
Professor Julietta Patnick, director of NHS Cancer Screening Programmes, said: "Regular attendance at screening remains the top preventative measure against cervical cancer and we would encourage all women to make the decision to attend when invited."
Big Brother star Jade Goody died in March 2009 after losing her battle with cervical cancer. Her death inspired thousands of young women to attend cervical test screenings.
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