DON'T FEAR THE SMEAR

It's Cervical Cancer Prevention Week, so we should do our bit to help eliminate it. Learn what to look out for and, vitally, test regularly

-  LUCY ROBINSON

January may signal the beginning of a new year, but it also marks Cervical Cancer Prevention Week (22 to 28 January). In the UK, approximately 3,200 new cervical cancer cases are diagnosed each year, meaning that around nine people will be told that they have cervical cancer every day.

However, over recent decades, a lot of work has been done to bring those numbers down.

“We have seen rates of cervical cancer reduce by 25% since the 1990s,” says Megan Winter, health information manager at Cancer Research UK. “That’s largely thanks to developments in research in two areas – the HPV vaccine and the cervical screening programme.”

In fact, NHS England has pledged to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040 and this week Jo’s Trust, the UK’s leading cervical cancer charity, is calling on the government to support NHS England in its pledge.

It’s also using this week to focus on women at any stage of menopause, and the difficulties many menopausal women face during cervical screening.

“Cervical cancer is unique because there is a long latent period during which cell changes are occurring on the cervix but the person has no symptoms. These precancerous changes can be detected on a smear test, and any abnormalities treated,” explains Dr Deborah Lee from Dr Fox Online Doctor and Pharmacy (doctorfox.co.uk).

As a result, with the NHS Cervical Screening Programme saving around 5,000 lives a year, it’s still important to go to a smear test even if you’re going through the menopause or are postmenopausal.