Almost 1 in 4 women in North Yorkshire not attending cervical cancer screening
One GP says there is a 95 percent survival rate if cervical cancer is caught early
Almost 1 in 4 women across North Yorkshire aren't going to their cervical cancer screening. The latest figures from the NHS suggest only 77% of 25 to 49 year olds have responded to their invite. The uptake for for 50 - 60 year olds is slightly higher at 78.7%.
The figures come as women across North Yorkshire are being encouraged to attend sessions to learn more about cervical cancer.
The Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance is offering free awareness workshops which are available online to anyone or working in the area.
They will teach people about the signs and symptoms of cervical cancer, as well as providing advice about screening tests, the human papillomavirus (HPV), which can cause cervical cancer, and the HPV vaccination programme.
Dr Dan Cottingham, CRUK GP Lead for the Cancer Alliance, said: “Cervical cancer is the most preventable cancer and cervical screening can help identify changes in your cervix and the cells, before cervical cancer starts. It’s important to educate and support people to have the confidence to come forward for their screening, which is why we’ve decided to offer a series of bitesize awareness sessions.
“Some people can be nervous about cervical screening because they are unsure of what it entails. Offering specific sessions helps us to alleviate people’s concerns and encourage them to attend their screening, which can catch any problems at an earlier stage when they are easier to treat.”
The Cancer Alliance’s Cancer Champions awareness sessions give people the skills and confidence to have conversations about cancer with family and friends, which in turn can encourage more people to attend screening or seek GP advice for any concerns they may have.
Syeda signed up to a Cancer Champions training session having lost a family member to cancer and being nervous of attending her cervical screening appointment.
She said: “I had spoken to my GP about cervical screening, but I was put off by the terminology used and didn’t fully understand the procedure, so I avoided going for my screening when I was invited. After attending the Cancer Champions training everything felt so much clearer. Things were explained really simply, and it gave me the confidence to book a screening appointment. I would encourage anyone to take up screening appointments when offered as early detection can make a big difference.”
Emma Lewin, Project Manager for the Cancer Champions programme, said: “We’ve had people come back to us after the training sessions to let us know that the training encouraged them to have screening or to speak to their GP about a concern they have had, and it’s potentially saved their life or that of someone they know.
“It’s a privilege to be able to make a difference to people like Syeda. I’m looking forward to delivering the cervical screening awareness sessions and announcing our next round of Cancer Champions sessions to continue making a difference and ultimately save lives.”
Cervical screening in England is open to women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 64. People aged 24 to 49 will receive an email every three years and those aged 50 to 64, every five years. More information is available on the NHS England website.
To reserve your place on one of the Cancer Alliance’s free cervical screening awareness sessions during Cervical Cancer Prevention Week (23rd January to 29th January) visit the Cancer Alliance website.
The campaign to end cervical cancer in the UK
This Cervical Cancer Prevention Week (23rd-29th January), Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust is calling for UK Governments to commit to eliminating cervical cancer in the UK as part of a campaign.
The charity says cervical cancer currently kills two women in the UK every day and is the fourth most common cancer in women globally. In 2020, The World Health Organization launched a global call for action to eliminate cervical cancer. Countries including Australia, Canada, and Rwanda have published strategies and targets to eliminate cervical cancer, putting them on track to reach this ambition, yet the UK has not.
The charity is calling for action, with clear targets and timelines, alongside speed in innovations such as HPV self-sampling, which could be a step-change in efforts to end cervical cancer.
In its latest report, it says the HPV vaccination and cervical screening can prevent, and one day will help eliminate cervical cancer. However cervical screening coverage has been largely on a downward trend with the latest figures showing that in England just 69.6 percent are up to date with their screening falling to 58.8 percent of 25-29 year olds. In London coverage drops to 62.3 percent. In Wales, coverage of two doses of HPV vaccine in girls in the 2021/22 School Year 10 was just 55.1 percent.
The charity also found that only 17 percent of health professionals working across cervical cancer prevention think enough is currently being done to eliminate cervical cancer in the UK. Only 20 percent think enough is being done to ensure high levels of HPV vaccine uptake, and just 16 percent believe that enough is being done to support cervical screening uptake.
When asked about the biggest challenges to elimination, workforce pressures and inequalities in uptake of HPV vaccination and cervical screening came out on top. HPV self-sampling, which allows women to test for HPV in their own home, was considered the top opportunity. Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust is calling for collaboration, innovation, and investment for these programmes, which have the potential to reduce some of the pressure on the NHS on a longer-term basis.
Samantha Dixon, Chief Executive at Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust said: “A world without cervical cancer doesn’t have to be a pipe dream. The UK has the tools to make it a reality which is incredibly exciting. We need Government action to get there as soon as possible, but everyone can play their part. Going for cervical screening when invited, and making sure your child is vaccinated against HPV, will help make cervical cancer a thing of the past.
“We must also continue to invest in research, improve access to treatments, and banish the stigma and blame that too often comes with a cervical cancer diagnosis. Being forward looking should not mean those living with and beyond cancer get left behind.”
Aeron was diagnosed with stage 3c cervical cancer at 42: “Cancer doesn’t end after the treatment and I’m now going through early menopause which started pretty immediately. I’m also dealing with the loss of my fertility. We need to be doing more so that parents know what the vaccination does and ensure their children get it. The idea that we could one day almost make this cancer disappear is incredible, why aren’t we running after that opportunity and shouting about it?”
Dr Ellie Cannon, NHS GP and broadcaster said: “Ending cervical cancer should be a priority and something we can all get behind. Progress to date has been too slow - GPs like myself are still seeing too many people miss their screening when called, which means they are in danger of being diagnosed late. This needs to change.
“We have an opportunity now to alleviate some of the NHS pressure in this area on a longer-term basis. With the right measures and a joint focus on innovation and protecting the workforce, we can take huge strides forward in this area.”
Jo Wilson, Sky Sports Presenter was diagnosed with stage 3b cervical cancer in 2022: “I was completely shocked to hear those words “it’s cervical cancer” - it’s just something you never expect to be told. Treatment has been incredibly hard and I’m so passionate about stopping as many women as possible from going through the same thing. We need to do far more to support women to attend cervical screening and really address the reasons why so many put it off. Work also needs to be done to make the test easier and ensure everyone understands why it’s so important.”