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Cervical cancer screening still outlawed

Despite numerous campaigns inspired by the late Jade Goody, the Government has opted to maintain a ban on cervical cancer screening for under-25s in England.

The test is available for young women from the age of 20 and over in the rest of Britain, but ministers said that lifting the ban would 'do more harm than good.'

Early detection is credited as saving 75% of cases of cervical cancers from developing.

However, the screening process can often lead to false positives, and one side effect of unnecessary treatment is premature births later in life.

The age was raised to 25 five years ago, after the government deemed that the risk of cervical cancer in young women was too low.

However, Jade was in an advanced stage of the disease at 27, causing more young women to request tests from their GPs.

Jade's husband Jack Tweed said in a statement: "Anything that saves a single life is worthwhile. I know because I still miss Jade every day."

Do you think the age should be lowered?

By Amy Bangs