Cervical screening knowledge gap ‘is costing lives’, charity says

A cancer charity says the knowledge gap about cervical screening is currently “costing lives”.

The Eve Appeal says more women need to know that they can ask for adjustments to their cervical checkup, which can be painful, uncomfortable or upsetting for some.

The test is believed to save around 5,000 lives in the UK every year, but many women do not get tested.

Research conducted by the charity shows that most women do not know that they can make testing easier by taking longer appointments, smaller speculums or going in a more comfortable position.

Screening, which tests for the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) – the virus that causes cervical cancer – is offered by the NHS to all women aged 25 to 64 and those with cervical cancer.

The test involves taking a sample of cells from the cervix. If any abnormal cells are found, they may be removed or monitored to prevent cancer from developing.

However, according to the latest figures from NHS England, even more Five million eligible women are not up to date With their regular screening, the lowest participation is among women aged 25 to 29 years (58%).

Athena Lamnisos, chief executive of Eve Appeal, said this was “worrying” and that any barriers people faced during screening could be “easily overcome”.

“There are really simple, obvious things you can ask that patients don’t know about… Basically, you can take control.”

More than 1,100 women were surveyed by YouGov ahead of Cervical Cancer Prevention Week.

Charity said women should know They may ask for screening adjustments like:

• moving into a more comfortable position for the test
• Ask them to stop at any time if they feel uncomfortable
• Booking double appointments so they have enough time for the procedure and don’t feel rushed
• ask to use lubrication
• insert or guide the speculum yourself
• Bring a friend to help

Ms Lamnisos said people with disabilities, people with certain health problems and people who did not speak English were among those who felt there were barriers to testing.

“Overcoming those challenges and closing the knowledge gap will save lives,” he said.

Eve Hewitt, who has Crohn’s disease and has vaginal lesions caused by surgery, told the BBC that she asked to adjust her screening because of the potential pain and bleeding.

“There’s a lot of worry about pain if I don’t go in prepared and prepared to advocate for myself,” she said.

Ms Hewitt, from Cambridgeshire, said she would always use a smaller speculum and ask for a double appointment with the nurse to “break the ice”.

“If I can say, ‘These are the things that concern me, I’m concerned about the pain, how uncomfortable it will be for me and maybe even how difficult it might be for the nurse’ — if we address that first. If I can discuss it with you, I can move forward with an action plan and that will really help me.

“Sometimes I find a pillow under my buttocks useful and it’s more comfortable for me and also a little easier for the nurse. If I find it’s not working I will rebook the appointment. “

Ms Hewitt said she agreed that there seemed to be a “complete lack of knowledge” and that she understood why some people did not go for screening.

“If I didn’t know I could ask for adaptations, it’s very likely I would have been turned away.”

NHS England aims to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040 through the use of cervical screening and hpv vaccine, Statistics show that this is reducing cervical cancer cases in England by 90%.

NHS England says people who have been vaccinated still need to attend cervical screening as there is still a very small chance of them developing cancer.