Trends in mortality from uterine cancer in relation to mass screening

Mortality rates from cancer of the cervix uteri, as well as for all uterine cancer, have shown a remarkable decrease in recent years in Louisville, Kentucky. For women ages 30-39 the decrease was 70.8 per cent, and for ages 50-59, 69 per cent. No change in rates was noted for women ages 70 years and over. These changes correlate well with the success of recruitment for screening of women according to age. The high degree of success in screening the low socioeconomic quartile is thought to be of prime importance. The average annual age adjusted mortality for uterine cancer other than cervix also fell impressively. In contrast to Louisville, mortality from cervical cancer in England and Wales, with the exception of the younger age group, has remained fairly constant over the past decade. Denmark showed no mortality decline between 1961 and 1971. Like England and Wales and unlike Louisville, screening there had not achieved high population coverage and the screening as does exist was not commenced as early.