Lack of knowledge about cervical cancer screening ‘costs lives’, says charity

Lack of knowledge about cervical cancer screenings is “currently costing lives”, says a cancer charity.

The Eve Appeal says more women need to know they can request adjustments to their cervical exams, which can be painful, uncomfortable or distressing for some.

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

Research commissioned by the association suggests that most women are unaware that they can make testing easier by requesting longer appointments, smaller speculums or moving to more comfortable positions.

The screening, which tests for the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) – the virus that causes cervical cancer – is offered by the NHS to all women and people with cervixes aged between 25 and 64 years old.

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

However, according to the latest data from NHS England, more than five million eligible women are not up to date with their systematic screening, the lowest participation rate being recorded among women aged 25 to 29 (58%).

Eve Appeal chief executive Athena Lamnisos said this was “worrying” and any obstacles people faced around the screenings could be “easily overcome”.

“There are some really simple, straightforward things you can ask that patients just aren’t aware of…basically, you can take control.”

The survey of more than 1,100 women was carried out by YouGov ahead of Cervical Cancer Prevention Week.

The charity said women should know they can request screening adjustments as:

• Move to more comfortable positions for testing
• Ask for it to stop at any time if they feel any discomfort
• Make double appointments so they have plenty of time for the procedure and don’t feel rushed
• Request lubrication to use
• Insert or guide the speculum yourself
• Bring a friend for support

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

“Overcoming these challenges and filling these information gaps will save lives,” she added.

Eve Hewitt, who suffers from Crohn’s disease and vaginal scarring from surgery, told the BBC she was asking for her screening tests to be adjusted, due to potential pain and bleeding.

“If I don’t go in prepared and ready to stand up for myself, there’s a lot of anxiety about the pain that might come,” she said.

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

“If I can say ‘these are things that concern me, I’m concerned about the pain, how uncomfortable this is going to be for me and maybe how difficult it might be for the nurse too’ – if we can discuss it beforehand, we can go in with a little action plan, and that really helps me.

“Sometimes I find that a pillow under my butt is helpful and makes it more comfortable for me and a little easier for the nurse too. If I feel like it’s not working, I’ll reschedule the appointment YOU.”

Ms Hewitt said she recognized there seemed to be a “complete lack of knowledge” and understood why some people were not going to the screenings.

“If I didn’t know I could request accommodations, there’s a good chance I would have been put off.”

NHS England aims to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040, through cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccine, reducing cases of cervical cancer by 90% in England, figures show.

NHS England says those who have been vaccinated should still have cervical screenings as there is still a small risk of them developing cancer.