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Smear test confusion after Jade's death

Thousands of women have had smear tests since Jade Goody died, but many are still confused about what the result means to their health, according to a leading cancer charity.

What is the confusion about smear tests?

Many women wrongly think that an all-clear result from a cervical smear test also rules out ovarian cancer, according to research by female cancer charity Target Ovarian Cancer.

Why is this happening?

Since Jade Goody died last month, there has been a massive increase in women booking cervical smear tests.

But as Annwen Jones, Chief Executive of Target Ovarian Cancer, confirmed: 'Sadly, cervical smears do not rule out ovarian cancer, which is more common and kills more women than cervical cancer.'

And polls carried out by the charity have revealed that more than 50% of women think a smear test covers more than just cervical cancer.

The same research also discovered that 66% of women could not name any symptoms of ovarian cancer, even though it's a bigger threat to women than cervical cancer.

What tests can you get for ovarian cancer?

There is currently no screening test for ovarian cancer, so this makes it even more important for women to be aware of any family history of ovarian or breast cancer and be aware of the symptoms of ovarian cancer.

What are the symptoms of ovarian cancer?

The following symptoms are frequent and persistent:

• Stomach pain
• Bloating or swollen tummy
• Feeling full or difficulty eating

.

There are also other possible symptoms such as a change in toilet habits, back pain and extreme tiredness.

If you experience any of these consistently over a few days, go and see your GP as soon as possible.

How will the doctor check for ovarian cancer?

There's a three-part check. First, your doctor will do a vaginal exam to check for any abnormalities.

The second part is a painless ultrasound scan, followed by a blood test to search for a specific protein. This doesn't necessarily prove that someone has cancer of the ovaries, but it's a helpful test.

If a doctor then suspects you could have ovarian cancer further tests can be carried out, including a CT scan and a chest X-ray.

How serious is ovarian cancer?

If the cancer is caught early women have a 90% survival rate, but if it's diagnosed at a later stage, the rate drops to just 30%.

Currently 12 women die a day from ovarian cancer and the survival rate is among the lowest in Europe.

Target Ovarian Cancer wants to raise the low 30% survival rate, which has hardly changed in 30 years. The survival rate for breast cancer has risen from 50% to 80% in the last 30 years and Target Ovarian Cancer wants to do the same for cancer of the ovary.

More help and advice

- Get the facts about ovarian cancer
- Read how Paula beat ovarian cancer
- Find out more about cervical cancer
- All the facts about smear tests
- Jade's life on film
- More information on Jade Goody and cervical cancer
- Jade's life in pictures: See our gallery of some of her most memorable moments

By Rob Mansfield

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