Hundreds of lives will be spared every year in England
thanks to a more sensitive cervical screening test rolled out as
part of the NHS Long Term Plan.
NHS experts said that there is “potential” to eliminate
cervical cancer completely thanks to the change in primary test
within the NHS Cervical Cancer Screening Programme, combined with
the effectiveness of the HPV vaccine.
The new and more sensitive test now looks for traces of
high-risk Human Papillomavirus (HPV), which causes nearly all
cases of cervical cancer. Any tests that are HPV positive are
then checked for abnormal changes of the cervix.
HPV is a group of viruses with more than 100 types, but 14
types can cause cervical cancer as well as some head and neck
cancers.
It means that any sign of infection will be spotted at an
earlier stage before it could potentially develop into
cancer.
Since the beginning of December, every part of the country
has had the new way of screening in place.
There are 2,500 new cases of cervical cancer in England
every year but research says that a quarter of those could be
prevented with this new way of testing.
The introduction is part of the NHS Long Term Plan’s
ambitions to catch tens of thousands more cancers earlier, when
it is easier to treat and the chance of survival is
higher.
Professor Peter Johnson, national clinical director
for cancer said:
“Screening is one of the most effective ways of protecting
against cervical cancer and there is no doubt this new way of
testing will save lives. It is vitally important that all
eligible people attend for their screening appointments, to keep
themselves safe.
“Combined with the success of the HPV vaccine for both boys
and girls, we hope that cervical cancer can be eliminated
altogether by the NHS in England. The chances of surviving cancer
are at a record high, but there is always more we can do, as we
continue to deliver our Long Term Plan.”
Professor Johnson added that cervical cancer often causes
no symptoms during the early stages of the disease, which is why
it is “especially important that people attend their tests and
that those who are eligible get vaccinated against HPV.”
Robert Music, Chief Executive, Jo’s Cervical Cancer
Trust:
“It is exciting that we are seeing advances in
cervical cancer prevention and must continue to look to the
future to make sure our cervical screening programme continues to
adapt and evolve.
“The day that cervical cancer is a disease of the past is
one we should be aiming to get to as soon as possible. Cervical
screening is such an important test, but there are many reasons
it can be difficult to attend. We must continue to understand and
tackle these to ensure as many women benefit from this far more
sensitive test and we save as many cancers diagnoses and lives as
possible.”
Professor Anne Mackie, Director of Screening at Public
Health England:
“With HPV vaccinations for all year 8 pupils
and HPV testing available nationally, cervical cancer promises to
become very rare indeed. This is a truly momentous achievement,
but to ensure we consign this disease to the past we must keep
vaccination rates high and continue to provide safe and
acceptable screening for all women.”
, Public
Health Minister said:
“Thousands fewer women will be diagnosed with
cervical cancer as a result of improved screening services and
the HPV vaccine and it’s incredible to think that cervical cancer
could be eradicated for good.
“The NHS Long Term Plan has committed to an overhaul of
screening programmes, new investment in state of the art
technology and a boost in research which will help more people
survive cancer each year. I encourage all women to attend
screening appointments.”
Joanna Gray, 30 from Manchester said:
“I still remember being told that I had HPV and cell changes. It
was really scary and made me panic. The doctor at the hospital
told me that if I’d left this for another three years then it
could have been very, very different. However now I’m all clear
and am really grateful that it was caught so early. I think it’s
amazing that smear tests prevent cervical cancer before it even
has a chance to begin.”
The latest figures show that seven in 10 people attended
their cervical screening appointment last year but that one
million people didn’t attend their appointment.
Women and people with a cervix aged between 24.5 and 49 are
eligible for screening every three years, whilst those aged
between 50 and 64 should be screened every five years.
The NHS Long Term Plan will transform cancer care across
the country with a renewed focus on improved screening to catch
three quarters of all cancers at stages one and two.
