What price a life?

Jun 26 2009 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

GOLCAR mum Joanna Tatlock has vowed to keep fighting for the age of routine cervical cancer screening to be lowered – despite a Government decision not to drop the age to 20 from 25.

Joanna battled cervical cancer two years ago, aged 25, after giving birth. As symptoms often only appear at a later stage, she and other campaigners say screening could mean earlier diagnosis for many women.

Younger people often have better chances of survival and early treatment may mean other measures such as hysterectomy are not required.

The independent Advisory Committee on Cervical Screening says screening could cause too many false positives.

It would also cost money – which is probably the nub of the matter.

But surely it is cheaper for the NHS to treat a cancer diagnosed early than it is to care for a patient with an advanced and more difficult to treat stage of the disease?

After all, can you put a price on life?