It’s one of the most common cancers among younger women
The NHS has pledged to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040. In a new update on X, the health service reminded people across the country of its vow and urged millions to get tested. The NHS aims to reduce the number of cases to almost zero in England by improving the HPV vaccination program for both boys and girls.
It comes today (January 19) marks the start of Cervical Cancer Prevention Week. As part of its Love Your Cervix campaign, the NHS aims to raise awareness and encourage action to prevent cervical cancer by promoting HPV vaccinations and regular cervical screenings (also known as smear tests). These tests help find HPV and any changes in cells before cancer can start.
The goal is to lower the number of cervical cancer cases to fewer than four cases for every 100,000 women, which is seen as “eliminated” by the WHO. On X, the NHS said: “The NHS has pledged to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040”. In the update, it shared the latest test advice: “Cervical screening, along with the HPV vaccination and treatment for cell changes, can all help prevent cervical cancer.”
The NHS is urging all eligible women aged 25 to 64 to attend their cervical screening appointments during Cervical Cancer Prevention Week. This annual campaign runs from January 19 to 25.
Dr Daghni Rajasingam, deputy medical director for NHS England in the South East, said: “Together with the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, regular cervical screening is the most effective way to protect against cervical cancer and prevents more than seven in 10 cases. Cervical screening saves lives. A few minutes could prevent cancer. If you’ve been invited, please book your appointment.”
Cervical cancer leads to about 685 deaths every year in England. Over 99% of cervical cancers happen because of a long-lasting Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Getting rid of this disease is becoming more possible because of the effects of the screening program and the large number of people getting the HPV vaccine.
The NHS wants to make cervical screening easier to access, including options for self-sampling and using the NHS App. This plan is in line with the WHO’s targets for eliminating cervical cancer worldwide. The aim is to save thousands of lives every year by stopping the disease before it even starts.
The HPV vaccine has already helped reduce cervical cancer in young women by almost 90%. The program will be expanded to include boys and provide catch-up vaccinations in community places for those up to 25 years old. Vaccination and screening are very effective ways to stop the disease from developing.
What happens in a cervical test?
A cervical screening, also known as a smear test, is really fast. The part where they collect the cells takes under five minutes, but the whole appointment might take around 10 minutes because of preparation and talking.
During the test, a nurse or doctor uses a soft brush to gather cells from your cervix. These cells are then tested for Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and any unusual changes that might cause cervical cancer. You usually get the results a few weeks later.
Cervical cancer is the fourteenth most common cancer in women in England (making up one per cent of all new female cancers). It’s one of the most common cancers among younger women (ages 30-44), with around 3,300 new cases each year. This is mostly because of successful screening and HPV vaccinations that have really helped lower the rates.
What are the signs and sy
- vaginal bleeding that’s unusual for you – including bleeding during or after sex, between your periods or after the menopause, or having heavier periods than usual
- changes to your vaginal discharge
- pain during sex
- pain in your lower back, between your hip bones (pelvis), or in your lower tummy
If you have other issues like fibroids or endometriosis, you might experience symptoms like these often. You may start to get used to them. However, it’s really important to see a doctor if your symptoms change, become worse, or just don’t feel right for you.
The NHS says: “These symptoms are very common and can be caused by many different conditions. Having them does not definitely mean you have cervical cancer. But it’s important to get them checked by a GP. This is because if they’re caused by cancer, finding it early means treatment is more likely to be successful.”
