Fighting cervical cancer
Awareness of cervical cancer has been given a boost in two ways recently. Firstly with the news that Big Brother and oft times controversial star Jade Goody has been diagnosed with the disease which was at an advanced level, causing her to undergo a hysterectomy and chemotherapy.
A sobering thought – but on a more positive note is the roll out throughout Scotland of the anti-cervical cancer vaccinations being offered to all girls over the age of 12 after months of advertising in a bid to ensure girls take up this potentially life-saving vaccination.
This is the first ever mass anti-cancer vaccination campaign by the NHS and is being offered on a routine basis to girls in S2 at high schools. A three-year ‘catch-up’ campaign also began this year to vaccinate girls aged 13-17, including those who have already left school.
Immunisation will protect girls against two strains of HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) that cause around 70 per cent of cervical cancers.
Minister for Public Health Shona Robison said: “Cervical cancer kills more than a hundred Scottish women every year, and touches the lives of many hundreds more.
“Through this simple, effective vaccine we can ensure future generations are protected against the virus responsible for almost three quarters of cervical cancers.
“The lifesaving HPV vaccination is an enormous public health breakthrough that will help prevent young Scottish women from developing a potentially deadly disease.”
Dr Martin Donaghy, Medical Director of Health Protection Scotland, said: “This is an exciting new immunisation programme for Scotland, and will deliver health benefits to women nationwide. It will protect future generations of girls from developing cervical cancer, and will mean many more will not have to undergo invasive treatments later in life.
“Whilst this is a challenging and complex programme to deliver, it is also a huge step forward in terms of cancer prevention.”
Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer affecting women worldwide and this immunisation is vital in the fight to significantly reduce future cervical cancer rates in Scotland.
It is important to note that the HPV vaccine does not take the place of regular cervical screening. It is vital that girls who are vaccinated attend for screening every three years between the ages of 20 and 60.
Eradicating the disease in developing countries is now well on the way to happening, however putting disease in a wider context, every year, about 500,000 women worldwide are diagnosed with cervical cancer and more than 250,000 die. It is the leading cancer in women in half the countries of the world and mostly affects relatively young poor women. About 80 per cent of cervical cancer deaths occur in developing countries.
Developments such as this vaccination as well as promising new screening tests now provide an unprecedented opportunity to tackle the disease in poor countries, where ‘pap smear’ screening has largely failed because it is too expensive and too complicated to implement.
About 2,800 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer in the UK each year. Overall, 2 out of every 100 cancers diagnosed in women are cervical cancers. But it is the second most common cancer in women under 35 years old. Added to this, about 24,000 women have a severely abnormal cervical screening result every year.
FACTS
What is cervical cancer?
This cancer only affects women. It occurs in the cervix, the entrance to the womb.
What is HPV?
HPV is short for Human Papilloma Virus – certain strains of which can cause cervical cancer.
How does HPV cause cervical cancer?
In some cases, the virus can survive in the lining of the cervix for a long time and damage the cells. After several years damaged cells can develop into cancer.
Development of the HPV vaccine
A vaccine encourages the body’s immune system to produce antibodies that will fight off the virus. In this way, the new HPV vaccine will help reduce the risk of cervical cancer.
Benefits of cervical screening
Thanks to Scotland’s successful cervical screening programme, which detects damaged cells which can then be treated if necessary, cervical cancer is a lot less common. It is vital that all women including those who have been immunised attend for regular screening from age 20.
THE STORY
Singer and songwriter, Sandi Thom
“Cancer and other life-threatening diseases are not things that we often think about - especially when you’re young and you have other things on your mind. But cervical cancer is an issue that faces all women across Scotland and the rest of the UK.
“When I was 19 I had a cancer scare and had to have laser surgery on my cervix in order to remove abnormal cells. It was a very scary period of time for me and my family and the procedure itself was really uncomfortable. The introduction of the HPV immunisation programme will mean that other girls will not have to go through this and due to the vaccine will be more protected from the risk of cervical cancer. It’s just three jabs but these can save your life - why not take the first step in the fight against cervical cancer!”
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