Just 12% of women know how HPV testing is used in cervical screening – Cancer Research UK

Thoughts the hole

throughout

The latest figures from NHS England (2021-2022) for cervical screening present that nearly a 3rd (30%) of eligible individuals

“Whereas optimistic strides have been made to extend consciousness of HPV, our analysis reveals main gaps in ladies’s understanding of present approaches to cervical screening,” says Professor Jo Waller, lead of the examine and now Professor of Most cancers Behavioural Science at Queen Mary College of London. 

“Enhancing consciousness will help to scale back emotions of uncertainty and confusion about screening outcomes. It can additionally assist individuals perceive the reasoning behind any future updates to the screening programme, corresponding to HPV self-sampling and adjustments to intervals between screening appointments.”  

Screening saves lives 

Most cancers Analysis UK has been on the coronary heart of a long time of pioneering analysis into understanding and stopping cervical most cancers. The charity’s scientists proved the hyperlink between HPV and cervical most cancers greater than 20 years in the past. 

Thanks to those scientific developments, together with the HPV vaccine and screening, cervical most cancers charges have fallen by over 1 / 4 for the reason that early Nineties. Nevertheless it’s nonetheless essential to do not forget that there are round 3,300 individuals who obtain a analysis yearly within the UK (2017-2019). 

“The cervical screening programme is estimated to avoid wasting at the very least 2,000 lives from cervical most cancers yearly within the UK and this quantity is more likely to improve because of HPV testing,” says Dr Julie Sharp, Most cancers Analysis UK’s head of well being and affected person info. “Everybody ought to have equal entry to screening, however boundaries to participation can usually result in inequalities in analysis and therapy. If we’re to remove these inequalities, we want extra analysis like this.”  

“It’s important that the UK Authorities continues to work with people, communities and companies to make sure that correct details about HPV reaches those that want it.”