Cervical cancer is preventable, detectable, and treatable at early stages.


In the UK it’s relatively rare, ~3,000 cases / 1/50 cancers diagnosed in women, causing ~900 deaths each year.


The HPV ( human papilloma virus ) vaccine has been available to girls aged 11 - 13, for almost 10 years - at least 4/5 are thought to have been immunised, and thus protected against this cancer.


Cervical screening, by examining smears, has been running for over 50 years. It’s not the only reason for a decline in numbers of deaths from this cancer. Better hygiene and nutrition, smaller family sizes, delayed childbearing, and fewer sexually transmitted diseases may all have contributed.


It’s still going to be recommended for women aged 25 - 64, but fewer tests could be needed for those who have been vaccinated, perhaps only 3 ( instead of 12 ). For unvaccinated women, it’s likely that testing will be for HPV first - and only if positive will the smears be examined for abnormal cells.


Clearly the ~6% of smears which are " abnormal " leads to anxiety. Examination by a gynaecologist with removal of the abnormal area may well " cure " something which might never have progressed to cancer. The government says a smear test is " a good idea " - if that corresponds to the woman’s own wishes. She should certainly discuss the matter first with her doctor.

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How different is the situation in the Philippines, and other " low- and middle-income countries ". Here, cervical cancer is second only to breast cancer in frequency - there are ~6,700 new cases and ~2,800 deaths each year.



Far fewer Filipinas have ever been screened for this cancer ( perhaps 5%, compared to ~73% in the UK ).


Public clinics offering screening may lack the ability or resources to treat abnormalities if they are found. It’s not only difficult for patients to travel to such clinics in the first place, but also hard to return for multiple appointments, or visit separate referral centres. If abnormalities can’t be treated, that raises ethical issues, not least the anxiety caused to the patients.



The HPV vaccine is available in the Philippines - but its high cost prevents wide enough coverage and use, not to mention resistance to vaccination efforts through fears of promoting promiscuity with a vaccine preventing a sexually transmitted disease.



Unfortunately, this cancer still too often remains " out of sight " when considering women’s health in countries like the Philippines.