1. There might not be any symptoms
From a GP’s perspective, one of the big problems with cervical cancer is that there might not be any symptoms at all in the early stages – and then if there ARE symptoms the person might not notice them, put them all together, or even take them to their GP in the first place.
As cervical cancer progresses, the sorts of things you might notice include vaginal bleeding that’s not normal for you – like having heavy periods, bleeding after sex, between periods or after menopause. Some women might notice changes to vaginal discharge, pain during sex, or general pain in their lower back, lower stomach, or in their pelvis.
2. It’s really important to know your own body
It’s absolutely crucial to know what normal looks like for YOU, and take note of any changes to your periods.
It’s those changes you need to tell your GP about – even if they’re only small, or not bothering you that much. We’d far rather you came in to see us and discuss it!
3. It’s more common in younger people
Cervical cancer is more common in younger women – so those between 30 and 45. Which means it’s really important to be vigilant, and never ever dismiss changes to your menstrual cycle.
Other risk factors you should be aware of include smoking, having a family history of cervical cancer, obesity, or your own history of sexually transmitted or immune deficiency diseases.
4. Screening saves lives
The good news when it comes to cervical cancer is that we know how to prevent it.. In fact, 99.8% of cases in the UK are thought to be preventable.
The NHS screening programme which checks for early signs of cervical cancer was introduced in the 1980s, and is thought to save 5,000 lives every year.
The NHS invites all women aged 25 to 64 to have a cervical screening test (also known as a smear test) every 3-5 years. The only trouble is, a third of women don’t respond to that invitation.
5. Smear tests aren’t as bad as you think they are
There are lots of reasons women don’t come in for their smear test.
Time is often a factor, or embarrassment, or being on a period, or worries about having to see a male doctor. Some people may have experienced sexual or medical trauma that makes even the thought of a smear test feel uncomfortable or scary. If that’s the case for you it’s important to talk to your GP about your concerns, as there’s things that they can do to help guide your through the process as comfortably as possible.
What I do want to say is that smear tests ARE worth it, as they do save lives.
The whole thing should take less than five minutes, and might be a bit uncomfortable, but should not cause you any pain. You can ask for a female doctor or nurse, change your appointment if your start your period, and even bring in a friend for support. My top tips are to wear something loose and comfortable, like a skirt or dress you can pull up to your waist, and to try and relax – I know that’s easier said than done.
Your nurse or doctor will ask you to remove the lower half of your clothes behind a curtain and lie down on the bed with a towel or paper over you. When you’re ready, you’ll be asked to pull your knees up and drop your legs to the side. We use an instrument called a speculum with a bit of jelly which is inserted into the vagina and opens up to give a view of your cervix at the very top. This may feel a bit cold but, if you feel any discomfort, you can ask your doctor or nurse to stop at any point. We then take a swab with a soft stick, pop it in a plastic tube and that’s what gets sent off to be tested. We’ll remove the speculum, pull the curtain back so you can get dressed, and you’re all done – hopefully for at least another 3 years.
6. Lots of people have the HPV virus
Part of what we’re looking for when we do a cervical screen test is HPV – human papilloma virus. It’s the cause of most cervical cancers in the UK. What people don’t know is that it’s incredibly common.
Many people have the HPV virus and find it causes them no problems, and in fact just goes away all by itself. But in some cases, it can become persistent and increase your risk of developing cervical cancer.
There’s now an HPV vaccine that’s now being given to school age children for the first time which we hope will help prevent even more cervical cancer cases in the future.
7. Abnormal cells don’t always mean cancer
Your cervical screening or smear test results will come back to you directly by letter about a month after your test.
If your test was negative for HPV you’ll just get another invite in a few years. If it was positive, they will also test your sample for abnormal cells. They will let you know what they find in the letter.
Sometimes, cells do start to change. But it’s important to understand these abnormal cells don’t always mean cancer, either.
You’ll be referred to a gynaecological specialist for more tests, and may have a simple procedure to treat the abnormal cells. If there’s nothing else to find, you’ll be called back for another smear test in about a year to make sure things are still looking okay.
8. It’s incredibly treatable
The treatment for cervical cancer is normally a combination of surgery to remove affected cells, or if things have spread further to remove part of all of your uterus. That’s followed up with a chemotherapy or radiotherapy, or a combination of the two.
Survival rates for cervical cancer can be good - but the earlier it’s caught the easier it is to treat, and the less invasive the procedures. Which is why it’s so very important to keep up to date with your screening.
If for some reason you’ve missed your NHS screening intervention, you want to test early, or every year instead of every 3 years - or if you’d rather do your own swab because of nerves or personal history, Bluecrest Wellness can help.
Bluecrest Wellness’ early cancer add-on includes a cervical cancer risk HPV test which can be done from home. It can be really useful if you struggle with smear tests or want one more often than the NHS offers. It’s easy, and quick, so if you’re looking for peace of mind, or just to stay one step ahead of your health, it’s well worth getting in touch.
Find out more about the Bluecrest Wellness Early Cancer Add-on
