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TWO women lose their lives to cervical cancer every day in the UK.
Like all types of the disease, the earlier it’s caught, the better.
Around 95 per cent of those diagnosed at stage 1 will survive for five years or longer.
But if it’s not spotted until stage 4, this drops to just 15 per cent.
Cervical screening programmes and HPV vaccines have reduced rates and save 5,000 lives each year.
But there is still work to be done.
Around 3,300 new cases are identified annually – that’s around nine every day.
And one in 130 women in the UK will be diagnosed with cervical cancer in their lifetime.
Astonishingly, 99.8 per cent of cases are preventable, according to Cancer Research UK.
John Butler, medical director at The Lady Garden Foundation, added: “Cervical cancer is a potentially eradicable disease if women attend for both vaccination and screening.
“It’s vital that we do more to help break the taboos, myths, fears, and concerns so that we can help prevent this disease.”
But it’s not just HPV. There are several other factors that put you at increased risk.
1. HPV
Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes almost all of the main types of cervical cancer.
And it’s more common than you might think. Most sexually active people come into contact with HPV during their lifetime.
It’s usually harmless and goes away on its own. But it can develop into cancer (of the cervix, vagina, vulva, penis, anus, head and neck).
There are more than 200 types of HPV, 14 of which are considered high risk for cervical cancer.
Two of these (16 and 18) cause about 70 per cent of all cases.
You can lower your risk of HPV by using condoms during sex, but vaccines are the number one way to protect yourself.
Jabs are offered to all children aged 12 or 13 in the UK. They are also available to men under 45 who have sex with men, sex workers and people with HIV.
However, these shots don’t protect against all types of HPV, which spreads through close skin-to-skin contact, so it’s important to also attend your smear tests when invited.
Cervical screening in the UK is offered to most women, some trans men, and some non-binary people, aged 25 to 64.
2. Other STIs
Women who have other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) alongside HPV may also be at increased risk of cervical cancer.
This is especially true for chlamydia, CRUK warns.
Researchers think long-term inflammation caused by the STI makes it harder for the body to clear the HPV infection.
Cervical cancer risk is also six times higher in women with HIV/AIDS than the general population, the charity adds.
3. Age
Age is another risk factor.
The NHS says cervical cancer is most common in women aged 30 to 35, though it can develop at any age.
This could be because they are more likely to be sexually active and have HPV, experts say.
Cervical cancer symptoms
LIKE many types of cancer, the symptoms of cervical cancer can be subtle.
But the main warning signs include:
- Unusual bleeding (including after sex, between periods or after the menopause)
- Heavier periods than usual
- Changes to your vaginal discharge
- Pain during sex
- Pain in your lower back, between your hip bones, or in your lower tummy
- Bloating and swelling
- Unexplained weight loss
Source: NHS
4. Smoking
An estimated 21 per cent of cervical cancer cases are caused by smoking, CRUK says.
And the more you smoke, the higher your risk.
Tobacco has been found to directly cause abnormal changes in the cervix.
“Women who smoke are two to five times more likely to develop abnormalities of the cervix than non-smokers,” the NHS says.
Smoking also makes the immune system less effective at fighting HPV infections.
5. Sexual history
The risk of developing cervical cancer is almost three times higher in women who have had six or more sexual partners, compared to those who have had just one, CRUK says.
It also doubles in those who first had sexual intercourse aged 14 or younger, compared to women who did so at 25 or older.
Separate research found women whose only current male sexual partner was circumcised were less likely to develop cervical cancer than those who were uncircumcised.
It all comes down to having more exposure to HPV, scientists say.
6. The Pill
An estimated 10 per cent of cervical cancers in the UK are linked to the use of oral contraceptives.
Taking the combined Pill for more than five years increases your risk further – but this risk drops as soon as you stop taking it, CRUK says.
After 10 years, the risk is the same as for people who have never taken it.
It does not seem to be linked to HPV infection, but further research is needed.
The contraceptive pill has been linked to an increased risk of cervical cancer[/caption]
7. Having children
Being a parent also plays a role.
A study published in the International Journal of Cancer found the risk of cervical cancer was 15 per cent higher in women who have had one full-term pregnancy than those who have had none.
The risk then increased with the number of full-term pregnancies, becoming 64 per cent higher in those having had seven or more.
It also increased in young mums. Researchers found women who first gave birth at 17 or under were at higher risk than those 25 or older.
Exactly why is unclear. But the American Cancer Society suggests it could be due to increased exposure to HPV, hormonal changes during pregnancy, and weaker immune systems while expecting.
8. Family history
Cancer is not usually inherited, but family history can affect your risk.
You are 80 per cent likely to be diagnosed with a type of cervical cancer called squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) if your mum, sister or daughter has had cervical cancer, according to a 2008 study in Sweden.
“We don’t know whether this is linked to faulty genes or is due to shared environmental factors, including HPV,” CRUK says.
9. Economic status
Women living in the most deprived areas of England are nearly twice as likely to be diagnosed with cervical cancer than their affluent counterparts, according to a report published by the National Cancer Intelligence Network.
Researchers believe this “deprivation gap” is mainly fuelled by a lower uptake of cervical screening.
Around 520 cases a year in England are linked with deprivation, according to CRUK.
The lowdown on smear tests
Cervical screening is offered to all women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 64.
It’s not a test for cancer, but it helps to prevent cancer.
You will get a letter in the post inviting you to make an appointment, usually at your GP surgery.
- Women under 25 are invited up to six months before they turn 25.
- Those aged 25 to 49 are invited every three years, women 50 to 64 are invited every five years.
- Anyone 65 or older is only invited if a recent test was abnormal.
During the appointment, a small sample of cells will be taken from your cervix.
The sample is checked for certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV) that can cause changes to the cells of your cervix.
If these types of HPV are not found, you do not need any further tests.
If these types of HPV are found, the sample is checked for any changes in the cells of your cervix. These can be treated before they get a chance to turn into cervical cancer.
The nurse or doctor will tell you when you can expect your results letter
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