Mother Not Discusing Cervical Cancer With Daughters
Today, new research commissioned by GlaxoSmithKline as part of its Fight Cervical Cancer in Style campaign, reveals that 58% of mothers have never discussed the cause of Cervical Cancer with their 12-25 year old daughters, despite over two thirds (68%) claiming to always attend their smear test appointments when invited.
Even with high profile cases such as that of Jade Goody, and heavy campaigning in recent years, many young girls and women are still not fully aware of their risks. Nearly half (49%) of mothers with daughters aged between 12-25, and 60% of girls aged 16-21, did not correctly identify that cervical cancer is the most common cancer in women aged 20-29.
Cervical cancer is not hereditary. Almost all cervical cancer cases are caused by a common virus called HPV (Human Papillomavirus)3 and 75% of women who are, or have been, sexually active are likely to be infected with the virus at some point in their lives.
The research revealed that nearly a third (31%) of 16 to 21 year old girls, and 26% of mothers with daughters aged 12-25,1 had not even heard of Human Papillomavirus.
The virus can be passed on through sexual contact, meaning girls and women are at risk as soon as they start having intimate relationships. Although it is usually cleared naturally by the immune system it sometimes persists and could lead to cervical cancer.
Nearly a third (30%) of young women surveyed, aged between 16-21, did not know how Human Papillomavirus is caught, with nearly 1 in 5 wrongly believing that HPV is hereditary.
Interestingly, 39% of mothers with daughters aged between 12 and 25 were unaware that HPV is passed on through sexual contact, suggesting a need for further education amongst mothers to ensure they pass on the correct information about cervical cancer to their daughters.
Robert Music, Director of Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust comments "The recent survey has uncovered some interesting and confusing facts regarding cervical cancer awareness.
"It seems there are still some gaps in knowledge amongst both mothers and daughters and alarmingly it appears not enough mothers are discussing this largely preventable disease with their daughters."
Whilst most mothers are claiming to attend their smear tests when called for, there is still a significant proportion that are not. Nearly a third (27%) of mothers are putting their lives at risk by not attending their smear tests when called for - which could be sending a confusing message to their daughters.
There are several steps that mothers can take to inform their daughters of their risk and ways to reduce it.
Steps include leading a healthy lifestyle, attending screening when invited and HPV vaccination, which is now routinely offered to girls aged between 12-13 through the NHS
The screening test is thought to save up to 5,000 lives every year,9 so it’s important that mothers explain to their daughters why it is so essential to go when they are called for, even if they have received the vaccination."
Currently, eight women are diagnosed and nearly three women die of the disease every day in the UK. It’s the most common cancer in women aged 20-29 and the second most common cancer in women under 35 years old.
Whilst awareness levels are on the rise, there still appears to be a need for further education of the risks surrounding cervical cancer amongst both girls and women.
This Mother’s Day the Fight Cervical Cancer in Style campaign, a national campaign to educate girls and women about cervical cancer so they can better understand their risk and how to reduce it, urges mothers to discuss these risks with their daughters in order to raise awareness of these important facts.
Tagged in Jade Goody cervical cancer