Cervical Cancer - What All Women Need To Know
Cervical cancer has attracted much media coverage in recent years, largely because of Jade Goody’s sad death from the disease - but have we learned enough?
In the run up to Cervical Screening Awareness Week in June, 20% of women in the UK still fail to attend cervical screening when invited.
Cervical screening can prevent cervical cancer and is estimated to save up to 5,000 lives each year and yet attendance for screening has been falling in recent years, especially within the youngest age-group invited to take part.
The number of young women aged 25-29 screened in the last 5 years has fallen from 78% in 1999 to 66% in 2010 .
Immediately after Jade’s death there was a rise in the number of women attending screening but this number is now falling again.
Each year in the UK 2,800 new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed and more than half of these are in women under the age of 50. Although very rare in women under 25, it is the second most common cancer in women under 35.
Nearly all cervical cancers are caused by a common sexually transmitted infection called human papillomavirus (HPV) which most women have at some time but usually clears up on its own.
If the infection doesn’t clear up there is a risk of abnormal cells developing which could become cervical cancer over time.
The Eve Appeal encourages women to take advantage of the UK’s successful national screening programme.
Almost all cases of cervical cancer can be prevented by screening and HPV vaccination. Says Robert Marsh, CEO of The Eve Appeal "The earlier cervical cancer is diagnosed, the better the outcome will be.
"Screening is free and can save your life so please, please pick up the phone as soon as that letter drops through the letterbox."
To reduce your risk of developing cervical cancer:
- Go for screening when invited
- Have the HPV vaccine if you are offered it
- If you smoke, try to stop
- Use a condom to reduce your risk of HPV and other sexually transmitted infections
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