A third of UK women fail to go to cervical cancer screenings | |||||||||
A third of UK women fail to go to cervical cancer screening
Around 2,900 women in the UK are diagnosed with cervical cancer every year. However, it is one of the most preventable cancers with deaths from the disease having fallen over the last 25 years wholly due to treatment offered from these screenings. The study from Bupa shows that cervical cancer is a relatively misunderstood disease in the UK, with many women put off going for a screening owing to a lack of information on what it involves and anxiety about dealing with abnormal results. So as this week marks the start of Cervical Cancer Prevention Week in the UK, Bupa is offering advice to women about what you can expect from this important check-up. Dr Katrina Herren, Medical Director, Bupa Health and Wellbeing, reassures that, “Early detection of pre-cancerous cells is vitally important in preventing cervical cancer - so if your test does detect these abnormal cells, don’t panic! It means that the cells which could develop into the cancer have been detected and can be monitored closely or treated to prevent them developing into cancer.” Below Dr. Herren answers some of your important questions: What is a cervical cancer screening?Cervical screening is a simple procedure carried out by a doctor or qualified nurse which can detect pre-cancerous cells inside the cervix which can develop into cervical cancer.What happens during cervical screening?A cervical screening test usually takes just a few minutes.You will be asked to undress from the waist down and lie on your back on a couch with your legs drawn up and knees apart - you will also be given a towel to cover up. Once you are ready your nurse or GP will use an instrument called a speculum to gently open the vagina and take a cell sample from your cervix using a small brush. Although this is an uncomfortable procedure it is relatively painless. Once over, the sample will be sent to a laboratory for testing and you will receive the results in a letter a few weeks later. How often should you have a cervical screening?According to NHS guidelines women aged 25 and over are advised to have cervical screenings at least once every three years to detect changes to the cells in the cervix.But this may change as a woman gets older to once every five years. What results am I likely to get?Around nine out of 10 cervical screening results are classed as ‘normal’.About five in 100 tests show borderline or mild cell changes; these usually go back to normal by themselves and this will be monitored with further screening every six months. One in 100 tests show moderate cell changes and one in 200 shows severe changes, which means further investigations will be required and treatment needed to remove the cells. What happens if my test results are ‘abnormal’?In the case of an abnormal screening result, or symptoms of cervical cancer, your doctor will refer you to a gynaecologist for further tests.Your GP or nurse may ask you to have a colposcopy where your doctor will use an instrument called a colposcope to examine your cervix. A colposcope acts like a magnifying glass, which helps your doctor or nurse to see the cells of your cervix in detail and to further investigate your symptoms. TreatmentThe most common type of treatment is LLETZ. This is where a loop of fine wire with an electric current flowing through it is used to remove the abnormal cells from your cervix. This usually takes around five to 10 minutes and is done under local anaesthetic.Another type of treatment is a cone biopsy where a small cone-shaped section of abnormal tissue is removed from the cervix and examined under a microscope. This is usually done under local anaesthetic. While it's scary to think about the process of a cervical screening and what the test results could be, it's even scarier to be ignorant. None of us enjoy what is commonly known as a 'smear test' but it can make all the difference to your health. If you have further questions about cervical screening, consult your GP or visit a family planning clinic to find out more. |
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Maria Bell 23/01/2012 00:15:00 | |||||||||
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Cervical Cancer Screening- all your answers | |
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