International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

A new study has indicated that wealth and ethnicity are linked to whether UK women have regular breast and cervical screenings.

The BMJ online research paper claims that white British women are more likely to have had a cervical screening, while women who own a car or a home are most likely to have had a mammogram.

Professor Julietta Patnick, director of the UK NHS Cancer Screening Programmes, said that while socioeconomic factors were likely to influence whether or not a woman has a mammogram, ethnicity and education levels have a direct link with the likelihood of being screened.

She added: "The challenge for the screening programmes is to make sure our services reach all parts of the population so we can reduce health inequalities."

Dr Lesley Walker, director of cancer information at Cancer Research UK, said that since it is commonly accepted that screening saves lives, it is "crucial" that women go when invited.

Earlier this month, Dr Diana Greenfield, test centre leader at Weston Park Hospital in Sheffield, UK, claimed that a huge improvement in adult cancer survivorship has been witnessed in the last three decades.