Cervical cancer screening Objectives What is cervical cancer

Cervical cancer & screening

Objectives What is cervical cancer? Who gets cervical cancer? Can it be prevented? What treatment is available?

Quiz time! Which viral infection is the most common cause of cervical cancer? a. HIV b. Human papilloma virus (HPV) c. Herpes

Quiz time! Which viral infection is associated with cervical cancer? a. HIV b. Human papilloma virus (HPV) c. Herpes HPV is a sexually transmitted virus that is linked to almost 100% of cases of cervical cancer

Cervical cancer cannot be prevented. - True - False Cervical cancer only affects older women. - True - False

Cervical cancer cannot be prevented. - True - False Cervical screening can help prevent cervical cancer Cervical cancer only affects older women. - True - False 60% of cases are in women aged 25 -49

What is the cervix?

What is cervical cancer? - Cancer that affects the surface of the cervix - 1 in 135 women will be diagnosed in their lifetime

Who can get cervical cancer? - Human papilloma virus (HPV) is the most important cause of cervical cancer - Body usually fights the virus, BUT - Infection is very common so prevention is important Barrier contraception All girls aged 12 -13 should be vaccinated against HPV

Factors that increase your risk - Women with multiple sexual partners Younger women Smoking Missing smears 60% of cases around the world happen in women who have never been screened!

Busting myths Myth #1 Cervical cancer cannot be prevented - Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers! - It is unique in that there is an early precancerous stage that can be picked up by screening - This can then be treated

The screening programme - Number of cases has decreased by a third! - If you live in England, you will get your first invite at age 25 - You will be asked every 3 years up until age 49 - Woman aged 49 – 64 are checked every 5 years

Myth #2 I have no symptoms so I don’t need to worry about going for screening Screening is used to detect any cell changes within the cervix that have a risk of developing into cancer If left untreated, these cells are at greater risk of becoming cancerous Abnormal cells can be detected long before any symptoms develop, which is why screening is so important! Symptoms to look out for include: - Bleeding in between periods - Bleeding after sex - Unpleasant discharge

Myth #3 Cervical cancer only affects older women

In fact… The number of women being diagnosed with cervical cancer aged 25 -29 has more than doubled in recent years WHY?

Only 63. 5% of 25 -29 year olds have a smear

There are many reasons why people may not attend ‘Smear t h t y r r o ‘I w l’ u f n i a ep ests are embarra a e m s at a b l l i w t r tes ssing’ ‘I’m scared of what a s mear test m ight find’

What to expect

What you might be told after a smear Normal Abnormal 95% of tests will show normal cells Remember: an abnormal result does not necessarily mean you have cancer! ? HPV POSITIVE/NEGATIVE