The UK is one of the first countries to commit to eliminating cervical cancer within the next two decades, and they plan to do this by increasing the uptake of both the HPV vaccination and cervical screening.
Nearly 99% of cervical cancers are caused by Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), a common group of viruses which are transmitted through sexual contact. Around 80% of people will come into contact with HPV during their lives, and normally the immune system clears the virus on its own without it causing any issues. If the virus isn’t cleared, some strains (called high-risk HPV) can lead to the development of certain cancers, including cervical, vulval and vaginal, head and neck, anal and penile cancer.
There is currently a very successful HPV school vaccination programme for young people aged 12-13. Those who missed getting the vaccine at school are still able to have it through their GP up until the age of 25 (and for boys/young men if they were born after 1st September 2006), and men who have sex with men can access the vaccine via the NHS up until they are 45. The current vaccine protects against 9 strains of HPV, including some of the strains known to cause cervical cancer. Since it was launched 15 years ago the vaccination programme has been estimated to have prevented around 450 cervical cancers and around 17,200 pre-cancers.
The NHS plans to make it easier for people to access HPV vaccinations, by making people’s vaccine history available on the NHS App, (like with the Covid vaccine) making it easier to book vaccine appointments online and offering vaccinations in more locations in the community such as libraries, community centres and leisure centres.
To try and reach the goal of eliminating cervical cancer by 2040 the NHS also plans to increase uptake of cervical screening. In the UK, women and people with a cervix are invited to go for cervical screening every 3-5 years from the age of 25. This screening test helps prevent cervical cancer from developing by taking a sample of cells from the cervix and checking them for high-risk HPV. If HPV is present then the cells will be looked at more closely to see if there are any pre-cancerous changes caused by the high-risk HPV. If cell changes are found, they can either be monitored more closely until they clear, or they can be treated to prevent cancer developing.
Cervical screening is estimated to save 5000 lives a year in the UK, but around 1 in 3 women and people with cervixes who are invited, aren’t attending. There are many reasons why people might not attend their cervical screening test, from lack of flexibility at work with taking time off for preventative appointments, caring commitments, not having the appropriate information and support available, or feelings of embarrassment or taboo. More needs to be done to break down the barriers that stop people from getting vaccinated and screened, and any move to help support more people to attend is very welcome.
Eve CEO, Athena Lamnisos, welcomes the commitment and hopes to see proper investment in their plans: “It is very welcome news to see the NHS make a commitment to eliminating cervical cancer in the UK. Targets are great and can create focus. But targets are just words and numbers if they aren’t backed up with resource, systems, workforce and infrastructure changes. In the UK, we have screening and vaccination programmes to be proud of. Elimination of cervical cancer is an exciting target and it is fantastic that we have this within our reach. We need to do more and better to support everyone, whatever their barriers, into cervical screening and make sure that anyone eligible is vaccinated.”
If you have any more questions about HPV, vaccination or screening, our Ask Eve nurses are here to give free and confidential information and advice. You can get in touch by emailing nurse@eveappeal.org.uk, calling freephone 0808 802 0019 or using this online form.