Latest news with #screening
The Independent
4 hours ago
- Health
- The Independent
‘Cervical cancer has affected generations of my family - NHS changes mean women like me could be missed out'
A woman whose grandmother and mother both had cervical cancer has called for the reversal of recent changes lengthening the intervals between life-saving screenings. Gemma Barley, 34, had to undergo a biopsy in January 2022 after her regular three-year check-up found abnormal cells in her cervix - despite her previous screening being completely clear. She fears that if she had been subject to new NHS England rules - which have lengthened the time between check-ups to five years - the outcome could have been worse. 'After a regular smear check-up in 2022 I got a letter to say we've found something abnormal in your smear and told I needed a biopsy,' the mother-of-one said. 'It was like my full life had flashed before my eyes. I thought my son was going to be left without a mum. It was horrifying.' Cervical cancer has affected Ms Barley's family for generations. She lost her grandmother to the disease aged 54, just three months after being diagnosed in 2004. Her mother was also diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2018 and had to undergo a hysterectomy to mitigate the risks of the disease. Ms Barley waited four weeks for her results - which said the cells were not cancerous. But the psychology graduate said the experience proves how quickly things can change, and fears recent changes to screenings for cervical cancer could 'put women's lives at risk'. Women aged 25 to 49 who test negative for human papillomavirus (HPV) will now be invited to cervical screening every five years instead of every three, under new NHS guidelines. According to Cancer UK, nearly all cases of cervical cancer are caused by HPV. Most of the time HPV is cleared from the body by itself, but some types can cause cancer if they stay in the body for a long time so require extra monitoring. After seeing the planned changes, Ms Barley started a petition to have them reversed and said: 'I was really angry when I saw the changes. Because of my first-hand experience, it petrified me. 'My first smear was fine, and I'd seen no significant changes in my life since then. But then my second smear found abnormalities. That's how quickly that could change - and yet they're happy to extend it by a further two years.' The change, set to take effect next month in England, follows recommendations from the UK National Screening Committee. According to analysis from King's College London, extending the screening interval to five years for HPV-negative women is just as safe as the current three-year interval, with a similar rate of cancer detection. An NHS England spokesperson said: 'We recognise that changes to cervical screening can seem worrying but want to reassure everyone that this new approach is based on robust scientific evidence and an expert recommendation from the UK National Screening Committee. 'The NHS cervical screening programme tests for HPV and uses a better and more accurate test than before. This means if you test negative for HPV, you don't need to be screened as often as your risk of developing cervical cancer is very low. If you test positive for HPV, we'll monitor you more closely with additional tests and follow-up appointments. 'This personalised approach ensures everyone receives the right level of screening based on their individual risk factors, providing better protection while reducing unnecessary procedures.' A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'These changes are based on robust scientific evidence and an expert recommendation from the UK National Screening Committee. 'The NHS cervical screening programme tests for HPV which is a more accurate test than the old cytology (smear) test, therefore intervals for those not at high risk can be safely extended from three to five years. 'If you test positive for HPV, you can be assured you will be monitored closely with additional tests and follow-up appointments.'
CTV News
a day ago
- Health
- CTV News
International Neonatal Screening Day
Atlantic Watch We chat with a genetic counsellor about the process of neonatal screening, and why it can be so beneficial.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Bilston Indoor Market hosts cancer awareness drop-in sessions
A series of cancer awareness drop-in sessions will begin later at Wolverhampton are being invited to Bilston Indoor Market to get information and advice about the signs and symptoms of the disease, screening programmes and treatment, as well as how to enjoy a healthier will be available about the three main NHS screening programmes, for breast, bowel and cervical cancer, including when people will be invited and what is of Wolverhampton Council, which will be working with the NHS sessions, said the first will be taking place later on, and on future Thursdays - 17 and 31 July, 14 and 28 August and 11 September. People will be shown how to check for symptoms of cancer and what to do if they have Ahmed, council cabinet member for health, wellbeing and community, said she would encourage anyone with questions on the signs and symptoms of cancer, screening, diagnosis and treatment to attend a session."Reducing harm from cancer through education and awareness, and promoting the uptake of cancer screening, are key public health priorities for us, and we continue to work with our NHS colleagues to take this important work forward," she drop-in session later and on the other dates, will run from 09:30 to 13:30 BST. Health checks will also be available on 17 July, 14 August and 11 September. Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Woman's common sex problem turned out to be deadly cervical cancer...as smear tests are to be given LESS often
A woman hit with advanced cervical cancer at 25 has urged others to attend every screening test—after she delayed her smear due to fears sparked by 'online horror stories'. Jasmin McKee, now 26, from Southampton, began suffering lower back pain and bleeding after sex in 2023, but assumed it was due to her newly-fitted copper coil. The operations manager had also 'put off' her cervical screening after reading fear-mongering stories online that suggested the procedure was painful. But in March 2024, she eventually plucked up the courage to attend the test which, to her horror, confirmed she had the cancer-causing virus, human papillomavirus (HPV). Around 99 per cent of all cervical cancers are caused by the HPV virus, which can be spread via sexual contact. Doctors also discovered that Ms McKee had abnormal cell changes within her cervix, with a later biopsy confirming the presence of cancer. Further scans showed the disease was stage three, meaning it had spread to nearby tissues. Around 60 per cent of those diagnosed at this stage won't survive for longer than five years, according to Cancer Research UK. 'Everything just goes a bit numb… it's just such a big shock,' she said of learning the devastating news. 'I didn't want the people that I love the most feeling sad for me. I just didn't want them to worry.' She immediately regretted delaying her screening test. 'It was nothing to worry about,' she said. 'I was in and out in 10 minutes and, for me, it was painless. '[Cervical screening tests] are not an embarrassing thing, the nurses will do 20 of them a day, no one cares. 'It's so quick, it's nothing to be scared about and they can save your life.' Ms McKee underwent surgery in November last year to try and remove the tumour, but doctors were unable to destroy it completely—and it continued to grow. In January this year, she began radiotherapy, five days a week for three weeks, and decided to tell her family about her diagnosis. Unfortunately, scans revealed the radiotherapy had not been effective, and chemotherapy was needed, which she underwent in April. She is currently having eight rounds of chemotherapy every three weeks, and is expected to finish treatment in early September 2025. 'Once I'm better, I'm going to grab every opportunity and get as much happiness out of life as possible,' she said. Ms McKee's story comes in the same week NHS England announced low-risk women aged 25-49 in England will now be invited for cervical screenings every five years, as opposed to every three. This change will bring cervical screening in England in line with Scotland, Wales, and other European countries, and aligns screening intervals to that of women aged 50 to 64. Those who test positive for HPV will be invited back for further checks, more often. The approach is based on evidence and expert recommendation from the UK National Screening Committee and is based on analysis from King's College London showing five-yearly screening is just as safe as three-yearly, with the same number of cancers found. The NHS say that, while the health service recognises changes to cervical screening can 'seem worrying', the new approach is based on robust scientific evidence and an expert recommendation from the UK National Screening Committee. 'The NHS cervical screening programme tests for human papillomavirus (HPV) and uses a better and more accurate test than before,' said a spokesperson. 'This means if you test negative for HPV, you don't need to be screened as often as your risk of developing cervical cancer is very low. 'If you test positive for HPV, we'll monitor you more closely with additional tests and follow-up appointments. 'This personalised approach ensures everyone receives the right level of screening based on their individual risk factors, providing better protection while reducing unnecessary procedures.' The NHS website says anyone worried about symptoms of cervical cancer should see their GP. Typical signs include unusual vaginal bleeding—such as during or after sex, between periods or after the menopause—pain during sex or in the lower back, pelvis and/or tummy, and changes to vaginal discharge. Research published last year found the UK death rate among women from cervical cancer has dropped by 54 per cent over the last 25 years. Experts say this is mostly due to of the HPV vaccine, which is given to teenagers and reduces cervical cancer risk by 90 per cent. In 2023 NHS England announced a plan to 'eliminate' cervical cancer by 2040, aiming for a prevalence rate of below four per every 100,000 people.
The Independent
4 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
New mail-in smear tests could save 5,000 lives each year
The NHS will introduce DIY cervical cancer screening tests for women in England who have consistently missed traditional appointments. The self-administered kits, designed to detect HPV, will be mailed to eligible women starting January 2026. The initiative aims to increase screening uptake by addressing barriers like discomfort or lack of time, ultimately leading to earlier detection of cervical cancer. Research, including the YouScreen trial, suggests that offering self-sampling kits could boost uptake by approximately 400,000 women annually. The Department of Health and Social Care anticipates the new program could potentially save around 5,000 lives each year by targeting underserved groups and making screening more convenient.
