Cervical cancer prevention week is a chance to highlight and raise awareness of the risks of cervical cancer. It is also a chance to help women and their loved ones to learn more about the risks and what steps they can take to prevent cervical cancer.
Cervical cancer is cancer of the cervix which is the entrance to the womb from the vagina.
Common symptoms of this cancer include abnormal vaginal bleeding, pain in the lower back/ pelvis, bleeding after intercourse, pain in the back of the kidneys, constipation and loss of control of the bladder. More information can be found at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cervical-cancer/. It is always advisable to seek immediate medical advice from your G.P.
Prevention measures can help and this is done through cervical screening and vaccinations.
Cervical screening is a free health test offered on the NHS for women between the ages of 25-64. Women are invited at intervals of one year, 3 years and 5 years. It is important to take the opportunity of attending the screening as this may help prevent cervical cancer.
Cervical cancer prevention is done through the use of cervical screening also known as the smear test. Women are usually invited by their G.P. practice to attend cervical screening. It is important to attend as this is a way of detecting changes in the cervix which may give rise to concern or future health issues.
Cervical screening is said to be the best way to protect women against cervical cancer and it can prevent over 7 in 10 diagnosis. The screening will identify if a woman is at a higher risks of developing cervical cell changes or cervical cancer. In England the use of HPV primary screening is based on in the individual risk factors and the frequency of the screening is based on the patients individual needs.
Like all investigation and screening this is not totally full proof and errors can occur sometimes as cell change can go back to normal and this may result in the patient receiving unnecessary investigation and unnecessary treatment but in most of the cases the accuracy of the results of the screening outweighs the risks of unnecessary treatment which means the NHS encourages women to have the screening.
The NHS cervical cancer vaccination programme uses a vaccine which protects against the two strains responsible for majority of the cervical cancer. This is free on the NHS for girls through childhood immunisation programme usually given to girls when they are age 12 or 13 years.
The NHS also advise women against smoking as this can reduce the risk of cancer.
As with all screening and vaccinations, although, cervical screening and vaccinations can significantly reduce the risk of cervical cancer, it is not guaranteed that you will not get this cancer.
For further support and advice further information can be found on the https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cervical-cancer/ or through charities such as https://www.jostrust.org.uk/.
If you have any questions as to whether you should have a cervical screening and vaccinations it is advisable to speak with your G.P. or practice nurse as they are best placed to advise you.
In our work we do sometimes come across cases of medical negligence. Mistakes in diagnosing cervical cancer can be quite serious. In order to succeed in a claim the clamant would need to prove that the delay or mistake in diagnosis affected the claimant’s outcome and overall prognosis.
If you or your loved one suspect medical negligence please do not hesitate to contact us.
Finally, if you suspect you have any worrying symptoms please consult your G.P. without delay as it is better to be proactive and safe.
This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. Please note that the law may have changed since this article was published.
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