Professor M. John Kennedy:

I do not think the data necessarily support there being an increase in the death rate for younger women with cancer in this country. I think we notice younger people dying of cancer. It makes more of an impact on us. I remember when I was training first I would notice patients my age with cancer and think, "Oh my gosh." Now I notice people my children's age dying of cancer. It has a profound effect on us. There certainly are cancers that are more aggressive in younger people. In particular, breast cancer in younger women is much more aggressive than it is in older women, so we notice that as well. I suspect it is more likely that. We do not see a particularly significant increase in the death rate for younger women. Once the cervical vaccination programme really starts to kick in, we will see a significant reduction in the number of women in their 30s and late 20s with cervical cancer, which will be tremendous. It is to be hoped what the Deputy has noticed will become less obvious.