Smear tests raise chances of beating cervical cancer to 9 in 10 Those who were diagnosed with the cancer via screening had a 92 per cent chance of complete recovery, found Swedish researchers, while only 66 per cent those diagnosed after going to the doctor with symptoms did so. The Swedish screening programme is much like that in England, where women aged 25 to 49 are offered a test every three years, and those aged 50 to 64 one every five years. Not all go regularly. Many are put off by its invasive nature. The academics, from the Karolinska Institute and Uppsala University, wanted to see if the programme actually resulted in better outcomes, or simply led to earlier diagnosis without postponing the time of death. They concluded that screening did result in a "very favourable prognosis compared to cases detected by symptoms." Some 3,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer in Britain every year, while almost 1,000 die. About two-thirds now live at least five years after diagnosis. Cancer Research UK estimates the screening programme saves about 5,000 lives a year nationwide.