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Young women in Surrey urged to have routine cervical screening
The NHS is Surrey is encouraging young women and people with a cervix to get their routine cervical screening tests as healthcare leader says, ‘having the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine should not be a reason to delay or avoid having your smear test’.
This Cervical Cancer Prevention Week Surrey Heartlands NHS Chief Medical Officer is encouraging women and those with a cervix, particularly in the younger cohort (age 24-49), to make sure they are booking in and attending their routine cervical screenings as data shows 30% of people in Surrey are not taking up the screening.
The week runs from 22nd – 28th January and is an annual initiative organised by various healthcare organisations to raise awareness of cervical cancer and encourage women to attend cervical screenings.
Joint Chief Medical Officer at Surrey Heartlands NHS and North West Surrey GP, Dr Charlotte Canniff said:
We are concerned that women may be delaying or avoiding booking in their smear tests because they feel they are less at risk because they have had their HPV vaccination.
Whilst we have seen a big drop in the numbers of young people getting conditions linked to HPV, such as cervical cancer and genital warts, it is still really important women are attending these potentially life-saving screenings.
Cervical screening checks the health of your cervix and helps find any abnormal changes before they can turn into cancer.
Nearly all cervical cancers are caused by high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV), a common virus that's spread through skin contact (usually when having sex). Most types of HPV are harmless. But some types are linked to an increased risk of cervical and other types of cancer.
The HPV vaccination works by reducing your chances of getting HPV, a common virus that is spread through skin contact (usually when having sex). Most types of HPV are harmless, but some types are linked to an increase risk of certain types of cancer including, cervical cancer, mouth cancer, anal cancer, penile cancer, vulval cancer and vaginal cancer.
Dr Canniff continued:
Cervical Screening tests can be done at your GP practice and are quick and straightforward to carry out. The healthcare practitioners who conduct these see many people day in day out and there is absolutely nothing to be embarrassed by.
Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers, yet two women die every day from cervical cancer. Cervical screening is one of the best ways to protect yourself from cervical cancer. There are around 2,700 cases of cervical cancer diagnosed in England every year, but we can make this a thing of the past thanks to cervical screening and HPV vaccination.
Whilst research suggests that over time the HPV vaccine will help save thousands of lives in the UK, it is still really important women attend their cervical screening appointments as there is still a small chance they could get cervical cancer.