A SMEAR test could mean the difference between life and death, yet figures show that 20 per cent of women still do not attend their cervical screening appointments.

With Cervical Screening Awareness Week running from January 22 to 28 Farnham consultant gynaecologist Nick Elkington, who practices at Spire Clare Park Hospital near Farnham, is urging women to make sure they are up to date with their smear tests.

“Cervical cancer is a preventable disease. The signs that it may develop can be often be spotted early and it can be treated before it even fully starts,” said Nick.

“While around 750 women each year in the UK die of cervical cancer every year, figures show that many of those who develop the disease have not been screened regularly.

“The single biggest risk factor for developing cervical cancer is not being regularly screened, yet it is thought that as many as one million women a year are missing out.”