Latest news with #cervicalcancer
The Sun
18 minutes ago
- Health
- The Sun
Women at risk of ‘preventable' cancer due to ‘alarmingly' low uptake of ‘life-saving' jab, health chiefs warn
YOUNG women are at higher risk of a "preventable" cancer due to "alarmingly" low uptake of life-saving NHS jabs, health chiefs have warned. Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines are dished out to 12 and 13-year-olds and offer protection against cancer-causing strains of the virus. 2 But low uptake of jabs in certain parts of England is leaving young women vulnerable to cervical cancer and other forms of the disease caused by HPV. HPV is a common virus that's spread through skin contact, usually during sex. Most strains are harmless but some high-risk ones can increase people's chances of developing cervical cancer, as well as mouth, anal, penile, vulval and vaginal cancer. Around 13 high-risk types of HPV are known to cause 99.7 per cent of cervical cancers. Health bosses have made it their mission to eliminate cervical cancer in England by 2040. But despite efforts to increase vaccine uptake in teens, the latest data published by the UK Health Security Agency (HPV) shows gaps in coverage in certain parts of the country, leaving young women in these areas at higher risk of HPV-related cancer. The data on HPV coverage in teens for 2023/24 showed that only 64.9 per cent of Year 10 female students in London had received their jabs. Coverage was also low for boys of the same age in the capital, with only 59 per cent taking up the offer for an HPV vaccine. Meanwhile, HPV coverage was highest in the South East for both genders - where 82.7 per cent of girls and 77.3 per cent of boys had gotten vaccinated by Year 10. At local authority level, Year 10 vaccination levels in girls ranged from 38.7 per cent in Lambeth, South London, to 97.6 per cent in Northumberland. Cervical cancer could be eradicated as HPV vaccine slashes 90% of cases For boys, it ranged from 28.2 per cent in Lambeth to 92.2 per cent in West Berkshire. Cervical cancer rates are already 65 per cent higher in England 's most deprived areas compared with the least, according to figures from Cancer Research UK. Dr Sharif Ismail, consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA, said: "The HPV vaccine, now just a single dose offered in schools, is one of the most powerful tools we have for cancer prevention. "Every vaccination represents a young person with better protection against the devastating impact of HPV-related cancers and we must do more to ensure that no teenage girl or boy, young woman or man is denied that protection no matter where they live. "Although we have seen some increase in the number of young people being vaccinated, uptake is still well below pre-Covid pandemic levels "Over a quarter of young people - many thousands - are missing out on this potentially life-saving vaccine." The HPV jab is given to boys and girls when they are in Year 8, though some children receive it in Year 9. It delivers a significantly stronger immune response if given before the age of 16, though getting it when older as part of a catch-up programme still creates a strong response. Anyone who missed their HPV vaccination, now just a single jab, can still receive it for free until their 25th birthday through their GP surgery. Up until recently, the HPV jab was only offered to girls. But boys also have an important role to play in helping eliminate cervical cancer by being vaccinated and not passing on the HPV virus when they become sexually active, UKHSA said. Jabs were rolled out to teenage boys in 2019. 'Beat cancer for everyone' Dr Ismail said: "We're calling on all parents to return their children's HPV vaccination consent forms promptly. "This simple action could protect your child from developing cancer in the future." Dr Ismail said any young adult up to age 25 who missed their school jab can speak to their GP about catch-up options. He also urged women to still attend cervical screening to ensure they are being checked for changes that could lead to cervical cancer. "Even if you've had the HPV vaccine, it's vital you still attend your cervical screening appointments when invited," Dr Ismail said. "Both vaccination and screening together give you your best chance of protection against cervical cancer. "Screening can detect abnormal cells before they develop into cancer, allowing for early treatment and prevention." It comes after UKHSA warned earlier this year that over a quarter of schoolkids hadn't had their HPV jab. Cancer Research UK chief executive Michelle Mitchell said: "Thanks to the power of research and the efforts of NHS staff, a future where almost nobody gets cervical cancer is in sight. "This progress hinges on people's access to two life-saving offers - HPV vaccination and screening. Together, they give the best protection against the disease. "Beating cervical cancer means beating it for everyone, so I encourage all parents and guardians to ensure young people don't miss out on getting the HPV vaccine. "And if you receive your cervical screening invite, don't ignore it." Dr Amanda Doyle OBE, national director for primary care and community services at NHS England, said: "The NHS HPV vaccination programme has already helped save thousands of lives and we need to go further to boost uptake of HPV vaccines and cervical screening to help eliminate cervical cancer in England by 2040. "If we can ensure that almost every Year 10 girl in some areas is protected and extremely unlikely to ever develop cervical cancer, we need to match this in every part of the country. "It's vital for boys and young men to be vaccinated too. Rates in boys still lag behind girls and HPV causes thousands of cancers in men as well as things like genital warts." Everything you need to know about the HPV vaccine The HPV vaccine protects against some of the risky HPV types that can lead to genital warts and cancer. Gardasil has been the HPV vaccine used in the NHS vaccination programme since 2012. It is protective against nine types of HPV. For example it is effective against types 16 and 18 which cause around 80 per cent of cervical cancers in the UK. That's why it is important for people who have a cervix to still get a smear test when invited by the NHS. Cervical cancer takes the lives of 854 people a year currently - but this is expected to continue decreasing thanks to the vaccine. There are around 3,200 new cases of the devastating cancer a year, with peak incidence in women in their early 30s. But the HPV vaccine doesn't just prevent cervical cancer - it stops some anal, genital (vaginal and penile), mouth and throat (head and neck) cancers. These affect both men and women. Who should take it? The first dose of the HPV vaccine is routinely offered to girls and boys aged 12 and 13 in school Year 8. The second dose is offered 6 to 24 months after the 1st dose. If a school child misses their doses, you can speak to the school jab team or GP surgery to book as soon as possible. Anyone who missed their jab can get it up to their 25th birthday. But people who have the first dose of the HPV vaccine at 15 years of age or above will need to have three doses of the vaccine because they do not respond as well to two doses as younger people do. The HPV vaccine used to only be given to girls who are at risk of cervical cancer when they are older. But in 2018, it was announced that boys - who can get HPV-related cancers of the head, nech, anal and genitals - would also be given a jab. Girls indirectly protect boys against HPV related cancers and genital warts because girls will not pass HPV on to them. But the programme was extended to further eliminate risk of the virus spreading in the future. Men who have sex with men (gay and bisexual) do not benefit from this indirect protection, and so are also able to get the HPV vaccine up to the age of 45. Some transgender people can also get the vaccine. Those assigned female at birth would have gotten one as a child. But those assigned male at birth could get a jab if they transition to female and have sex with men.
Medscape
3 hours ago
- Health
- Medscape
Sexual Effects Persist After Cervical Cancer Treatment
CHICAGO — Patients treated for cervical cancer need dedicated survivorship care to address long-term symptoms and sexual health concerns. That was the conclusion of a review of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) from among 919 women in the international phase 3 OUTBACK trial. The PROs showed that numerous sexual health symptoms and concerns persist 3 years following treatment, Linda Mileshkin, MD, reported at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2025. The 10 top-ranked PROs at 1-year follow-up — based on responses from the 64% of trial participants who completed a European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) questionnaire — and their persistence or resolution at 2-3 years, based on responses from 37% of trial participants, are listed in the table below. Table. Frequency and Duration of Top-Ranked Moderate-to-Severe Symptoms 10 most common moderate-to-severe PROs after cervical cancer treatment Number (percentage) of patients reporting symptoms at 1 year Number (percentage) of patients reporting symptoms at year 2 or 3 Worries about future health 135 (44) 49 (36) Hot flashes/sweats 132 (37) 49 (37) Frequent urination 126 (35) 45 (36) Sexual activity not enjoyable 125 (64) 43 (34) Trouble sleeping 117 (32) 37 (32) Feeling tired 104 (29) 33 (32) Changes in bowel habits 102 (28) 41 (40) Financial difficulties 101 (28) 32 (32) Pain 96 (27) 23 (24) Dissatisfied with body 95 (26) 27 (28) PROs = patient-reported outcomes PROs were based on responses to the EORTC core questionnaire QLQ-C30; cervical cancer module QLQ-CX24 (questions 50-54 only for sexually active points); EORTC Item Library questions on abdominal, urinary, bowel, and chemotherapy side effects; and FACT-GOG-NTX-4 neurotoxicity over 36 months. A moderate-to-severe long-term symptom issue was defined as a score in the worst 2 response categories (EORTC items), a total score ≤ 8/16 on FACT-GOG-NTX4 at years 1, 2, or 3 for Objectives 1-2, or an equivalent subscale score for Objective 3. Adapted from Mileshkin L. Program and abstracts of the 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting; May 30 to June 3, 2025; Chicago, Illinois. Abstract 5503. The OUTBACK trial assessed the addition of adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) after chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for the treatment of locally advanced cervical cancer. That study demonstrated that ACT increased adverse events without improving overall survival compared with CRT alone. Regardless of whether patients were assigned to the CRT + ACT or CRT-only treatment group, the issues and frequencies from PROs in the current analysis were observed, reported Mileshkin, who is director of Medical Oncology at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne, Australia, and first author for the OUTBACK trial. Given the low questionnaire completion rates at 2-3 years, the PROs may represent underestimates, she said. At 1 year, moderate-to-severe peripheral neuropathy affected 24% and 18% of those who received CRT + ACT and those who received only CRT, respectively, and at 3 years, the corresponding rates were 19% and 12%. At baseline, 77% of patients reported no sexual activity in the prior 4 weeks, and at years 1, 2, or 3, 92% reported low sexual activity, 68% reported low enjoyment, 40% reported moderate-to-severe vaginal tightness, 37% reported vaginal dryness during sex, and 32% were moderately to severely worried that sex would be painful. The rates of poor sexual enjoyment were somewhat lower with CRT-only treatment, whereas the rates of sexual worry were higher among those with CRT + ACT. Age younger than 60 years was an independent risk factor for experiencing sexual concerns. Though limited by the low completion rate at 3 years and a lack of data on menopausal symptom management and use of vaginal estrogen or dilators, the findings underscored the importance of discussing and managing the long-term effects of CRT with patients, Mileshkin said during her presentation at the meeting. Cervical cancer treatment in clinical practice will change over time, but 'meanwhile, there's going to be hundreds of thousands of women who've had this type of treatment who continue to recover and live with these side effects,' she stressed. 'I hope [these findings] will help clinicians remember to ask patients about these issues and try to address them because women won't necessarily volunteer them themselves.' Mileshkin disclosed honoraria from GlaxoSmithKline and the limbic; research funding from BeiGene; and travel, accommodations, expenses, and another relationship with Roche.
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The Independent
4 hours ago
- Health
- The Independent
Young women ‘at risk' of preventable cancer after low vaccine uptake
Low uptake of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine among children is increasing the risk of cervical cancer for young women in England, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reports. Significant regional disparities exist in vaccine coverage, with London showing the lowest uptake rates for both girls and boys, while areas like the South East and Northumberland have the higher rates. The HPV vaccine, typically administered to children in Year 8 or 9, is vital for preventing cervical cancer and also offers protection against other cancers and genital warts. Health experts, including Dr. Sharif Ismail from UKHSA, stress that the vaccine is a powerful tool for cancer prevention and urge parents to ensure their children receive it. NHS England aims to eliminate cervical cancer in England by 2040, a goal contingent on increased HPV vaccination rates and consistent participation in cervical screening.
The Independent
4 hours ago
- Health
- The Independent
Cervical cancer rates soaring in deprived areas after low vaccine uptake
Young women across certain regions of England are facing an elevated risk of cervical cancer, a direct consequence of alarmingly low uptake rates for the preventative human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, health experts have cautioned. Analysis from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) underscores this critical public health concern, revealing that insufficient vaccination among children is leaving many women vulnerable to the disease. The disparity is stark: cervical cancer rates are already 65 per cent higher in England's most deprived areas compared with the least, according to figures from Cancer Research. HPV refers to a group of common viruses, typically transmitted through sexual contact, which often present no symptoms but can lead to various cancers, including cervical cancer. Around 13 high-risk types of HPV are known to cause 99.7% of cervical cancers. The HPV jab is given to boys and girls when they are in Year 8 and is key to wiping out cervical cancer in the UK. Some children receive it in Year 9. The jab also protects against genital warts and head and neck cancers, such as those in the mouth or throat. UKHSA data for 2023/24 in England shows inequalities in uptake of the jab in some regions. By Year 10, HPV coverage in girls was lowest in London (64.9%) and highest in the South East (82.7%). Among boys, it was also lowest in London (58.9%) and highest in the South East (77.3%). Meanwhile, at local authority level, Year 10 vaccination levels in girls ranged from 38.7% (Lambeth in London) to 97.6% (Northumberland). Among boys, it ranged from 28.2% (Lambeth in London) to 92.2% (West Berkshire). The HPV jab delivers a significantly stronger immune response if given before the age of 16, though getting it when older as part of a catch-up programme still creates a strong response. Dr Sharif Ismail, consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA, said: "The HPV vaccine, now just a single dose offered in schools, is one of the most powerful tools we have for cancer prevention. "Every vaccination represents a young person with better protection against the devastating impact of HPV-related cancers, and we must do more to ensure that no teenage girl or boy, young woman or man is denied that protection no matter where they live. "Although we have seen some increase in the number of young people being vaccinated, uptake is still well below pre-Covid pandemic levels. "Over a quarter of young people - many thousands - are missing out on this potentially life-saving vaccine. "We're calling on all parents to return their children's HPV vaccination consent forms promptly. "This simple action could protect your child from developing cancer in the future." Dr Ismail said any young adult up to age 25 who missed their school jab can speak to their GP about catch-up options. He also urged women to still attend cervical screening to ensure they are being checked for changes that could lead to cervical cancer. In 2023, the then head of NHS England, Amanda Pritchard, said cervical cancer would be wiped out in England by 2040. Cancer Research UK chief executive Michelle Mitchell said: "Thanks to the power of research and the efforts of NHS staff, a future where almost nobody gets cervical cancer is in sight. "This progress hinges on people's access to two life-saving offers - HPV vaccination and screening. Together, they give the best protection against the disease. "Beating cervical cancer means beating it for everyone, so I encourage all parents and guardians to ensure young people don't miss out on getting the HPV vaccine. "And if you receive your cervical screening invite, don't ignore it." Dr Amanda Doyle, national director for primary care and community services at NHS England, said: "The NHS HPV vaccination programme has already helped save thousands of lives and we need to go further to boost uptake of HPV vaccines and cervical screening to help eliminate cervical cancer in England by 2040. "If we can ensure that almost every Year 10 girl in some areas is protected and extremely unlikely to ever develop cervical cancer, we need to match this in every part of the country."
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
'Cervical screening saved my life,' says MLA
An MLA has said it was "shocking and really terrifying" when she was diagnosed with cervical cancer in November 2023. Michelle Guy, who was 44 at the time and experienced no symptoms, said the cancer was only caught because of cervical screening. "It terrifies me to think if I was blasé about going for screenings, what that outcome could have been; how more developed things might have been when I realised that there was a problem," she said. An average of 81 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer each year between 2017 and 2021, with about 20 deaths per year, according to the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry, which hold the most recent statistics. The Alliance Party politician hopes to use her platform to encourage women to go for cervical screening. "I'm relieved to have went through that process, relieved that the screening system worked for me; that it did find that cancer, and it did find it early," she said. The mother-of-two said her diagnosis came as "a huge surprise" as her previous smear tests had always came back clear of abnormalities. But a routine smear test two years ago showed there was "something wrong" which needed further investigation. "To find myself in that position was initially unnerving," she said. "But I was realistic that most people, they go through this, everything's fine. "That's what the screening process is for, to identify things early." A couple of weeks after having a colposcopy, while sitting in her kitchen, she received a "terrifying" phone call from the hospital asking her to come in, but not to come alone. "When you hear, don't come on your own, you know there's something wrong," she said. She was told she had cervical cancer. It was caught "at an early stage", which she said was a "relief", but it still led to months of anxiety until she completed treatment. Her treatment was a hysterectomy which she had in January 2024, while still working as a councillor for Lisburn and Castlereagh Council. "We got a level of reassurance that the hysterectomy would be a cure - that was the language that my oncologist used - that they intended this to be a cure," she said. "There isn't 100% certainty until you've had the procedure and all the different tests are complete, so I was just really anxious and determined to get it over with. "You want that operation as soon as possible because nothing's getting better while you're waiting. "I was lucky that it was contained and localised in a way that going through that surgery, as dramatic and painful as that is, I was very cognizant that things might have been worse had that diagnosis not come as early as it did." Cervical screening, while not a diagnostic test, is for people without symptoms and aims to detect early changes which could go on to develop into cervical cancer if left untreated. In some cases, cancer may be found. In December 2023, Northern Ireland introduced primary HPV cervical screening, although this was after Ms Guy's diagnosis. It checks for an infection called human papillomavirus (HPV) - the cause of most cervical cancers. This newer HPV test is regarded as a better indicator than cytology of identifying who is a higher risk of developing cervical cancer. Through her diagnosis and treatment she continued to work in politics because, not only did she feel it was "vocational", it was also a "distraction". She said she had that "reflex to stay busy" and "wanted to get as far away from what I had been through as quickly as possible". "It's that sense of I was running away from it as opposed to necessarily processing it," she added. She said she also threw herself into experiences that she may not otherwise have done so, including replacing Sorcha Eastwood as the MLA for Lagan Valley just eight months after her diagnosis. Michelle understands that there is a lack of confidence around cervical screening, particularly after what happened in the Southern Trust when 17,500 women had to have their smear tests re-checked. "Of course [that] would shake anybody's confidence in our system here - that women were going forward for their smears, and they were being let down," she said. While she had kept her cervical cancer diagnosis private, she feels now is the right time to share her experience to "hopefully do some good" and encourage women to attend screenings. "Not going for it and then potentially facing a diagnosis that I had and potentially one that's much more serious - that you knew you might have been able to prevent had you taken the opportunity of a screening - I really feel that that is a message that I didn't want to shy away from anymore," she said. New cervical cancer infection screening launched 17,500 cervical smear tests to be re-checked
