Last week was Cervical Cancer Prevention Week, so we’ve written a blog to give you a run-through of symptoms and cervical screening.
After breast cancer, cervical cancer is the most common cancer in women aged 35 and under* Yet only a third of women would visit their doctor if they had symptoms of cervical cancer.**
We know that the earlier a cancer is found, the more likely it is that treatment will be successful. Most of the time, symptoms are caused by something other than cancer, but just in case, it’s really important to see your GP or nurse.
Things to look out for:
It can be embarrassing to talk about these symptoms, but getting them checked
out can make a real difference.
Cervical screening (smear tests)
For most women, cervical screening can prevent cancer.
Cervical screening is a way of detecting early changes to cells of the cervix, which could go on to become cancer. Once identified, the abnormalities can be treated, preventing cancer.
Women aged 25+ in England and Northern Ireland, or 20+ in Scotland and Wales, should be invited for a test as part of the NHS screening programme. Although the test can be uncomfortable, it’s not painful and lasts less than five minutes.
Watch our video of Consultant Gynecological Surgeon Richard Smith explaining cervical screening.
The screening result
Most women who have a cervical screening test have a normal result. Some women’s tests will show that they have changes in the cells of their cervix, which is known as an abnormal result. Obviously this can be scary, but remember, it doesn’t mean you have cancer. It may mean you need further tests. These cell changes are normally not due to cancer.
Sometimes they are conditions that could develop into cancer, but these can normally be very successfully treated before this happens. Very few women with an abnormal test result have cancer of the cervix.
We have a free booklet about cervical screening, which explains more about the test and results. You can also get it as an audiobook.
HPV and cancer
Cell changes in the cervix are often associated with the human papilloma virus (HPV), which is transmitted by sexual intercourse. Contrary to popular belief, HPV is actually very common. There are over 100 types of HPV, and most people who are sexually active will have it at some time during their life. HPV is not cancer. For most people, infections come and go without causing any problems.
Only some types of the virus, known as high-risk types, may go on to cause cell changes in the cervix, which could develop into cervical cancer if not treated.
Cervical cancer
A cervical screening test can very occasionally detect early cervical cancer, but most women with an abnormal test result have early cell changes and not cancer.
Very few women with an abnormal test result have cancer of the cervix. If you are diagnosed with cervical cancer, we have lots of information on our website about treatment and living with cervical cancer.
We also have a free booklet about cervical cancer, which covers diagnosis, treatment, side effects and living with cancer. It’s also available as an audiobook.
Benefits and limitations of cervical screening
Whether to have cervical screening should be your own decision, so we’re going to round off with some pros and cons, which we hope will help you decide what’s right for you.
Benefits
Limitations
Remember, if you have any questions about cancer or screening, you can talk to our cancer support specialists or your GP.
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Sources
*Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust. http://www.jostrust.org.uk/about-cervical-cancer
**Report by Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust. http://www.itv.com/news/story/2013-01-21/only-a-third-of-women-would-visit-a-doctor-if-the-experienced-cervical-cancer-symptoms/
***NHS Cancer Screening. Cervical cancer screening. http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/preventing-cancer/Pages/cancer-screening.aspx
