Cervical cancer kills up to 10 women in North East Lincolnshire each year

Cervical cancer kills up to 10 women in North East Lincolnshire each year

Cervical Cancer prevention week aims to educate people on how they can reduce their risk of the disease

The reduction in women attending cervical screening appointments could be the alarming reason why the disease is claiming up to 10 lives in North East Lincolnshire every year.

Shockingly in November, we revealed that NHS figures showed 9,811 women aged between 24 and 64 in North East Lincolnshire were not up to date with cervical cancer screening by the end of March 2018. Just 74.8 percent of women in this age group were up to date with screening, the lowest rate since comparable figures began in 2013.

Cervical cancer awareness week runs from Monday, January 21 – Sunday, January 27, 2019 - it aims to educate people about how they can reduce their risk of the disease.

The test is intended to detect abnormalities within the cervix that could, if undetected and untreated, develop into cervical cancer.

Deputy director of Public Health, North East Lincolnshire Council, Geoffrey Barnes said: "Tragically cervical cancer kills up to 10 women in North East Lincolnshire each year and most cases of cervical cancer occur in ladies beneath the age of fifty.

"We are concerned therefore that we have seen a reduction in the number of women coming forward for cervical screening in recent years.

"All women registered with a GP between the ages of 25 and 64 are invited for cervical screening every three years up to the age of 50 and then every five years.

"Screening should ensure that any early signs of abnormality in the cervix are identified and relatively simple treatment can prevent cancer ever developing.

"The introduction of the vaccination programme for human papillomavirus (HPV) for teenage girls ten years ago will eventually lead to a reduction in the number of cervical cancers as this virus is responsible for most of them.

"It’s therefore very important that girls take the vaccination when it’s offered to them in school."

The signs and symptoms to look out for

Unusual bleeding

In most cases, abnormal duct harm is that the 1st noticeable symptom of cervical cancer. This includes bleeding:

• During or after sex

• Between your periods

• After you have been through the menopause

Other symptoms of cervical cancer could embrace pain and discomfort throughout sex, unusual or unpleasant vaginal discharge and pain in your lower back or pelvis.

Advanced cervical cancer

If cancer spreads out of your cervix and into surrounding tissue and organs, it can trigger a range of other symptoms, including:

• Pain in your lower back or pelvis

• Severe pain in your aspect or back caused by your kidneys

• Constipation

• Weeing or pooing more often than normal

• Losing control of your bladder or bowels

• Blood in your wee

• Swelling of one or both legs

• Severe vaginal bleeding

When to seek medical advice

Vaginal hurt is incredibly common and might have a large variety of causes, so it does not necessarily mean you have cervical cancer. However, uncommon epithelial duct hurt must be investigated by your physician.

• Attending cervical screening when invited

• Knowing the symptoms of cervical cancer and seeking medical recommendation if experiencing any

• Taking up the HPV vaccination if aged 11-18

• Knowing where to find support and further information

At the beginning of March 2019, Public Health England will launch a new national campaign to help increase participation in the National Cervical Screening Programme. Cervical screening is calculable to avoid wasting five,000 lives a year and nevertheless, coverage is at a twenty year low.