Cervical screening history in patients with early stage carcinoma of the cervix.

This study aimed to examine whether a decade of heightened publicity on issues relating to cervical screening has changed the screening profile of women presenting with cervical cancer at the National Maternity Hospital. The screening history of 100 women diagnosed with early/surgically treated cervical cancer between 1998 and 2002 was compared with a similar study conducted in 1982 /1990. The percentage of women never screened was similar - 24 %( 2002) and 23% (1990). The interval between last recorded smear and diagnosis of disease was greater than 5 years in 45.6% and 41.7% respectively. Overall 60% of women in the recent period had either failed to avail of screening or were not screened within 5 years of diagnosis compared with 64% in 1990. Multiparous women comprised 90% of the study group and 50% of those inadequately screened were attending their general practitioner on a regular basis - therefore affording a potential for opportunistic screening The current method of screening has failed in this group and has not improved in 10 years despite of increased population awareness and greater opportunities for screening than ever before and would support an argument for a National Screening Program.