Select a region
Women in Jersey will now be able to receive more accurate screenings that enable early detection of cervical cancer thanks to a £40,000 donation from a local cancer charity.
Funded by Jersey Cancer Relief, ‘HPV primary screening’ ensures early detection and treatment of cervical disease and enables women to receive their test results quicker.
The new test is already being rolled out for use across specialist laboratories in England and was first used in Jersey on 16 September, earlier than anticipated, thanks to Jersey Cancer Relief's contribution.
The charity has paid for the extra costs of the new test for two years, after which Health and Community Services will meet all the costs involved.
Pictured: Previously, samples were first examined under a microscope.
As part of the previous screening test, samples were examined in a specialist laboratory using under a microscope to detect abnormal cells that might develop into cancer, a technique known as cytology.
If abnormal cells were found, a human papillomavirus (HPV) test was then used as a secondary measure to determine which women needed to undergo further investigation.
However, it was widely recognised that the cytology test might occasionally miss some abnormal cells as they sometimes looked similar to normal cells. In addition, normal cells could occasionally be mis-diagnosed as abnormal.
Recent scientific and medical advancements, as well as increased knowledge about the role human papillomavirus (HPV) has in causing cervical cancer, have led to a new HPV primary screening test being developed.
Pictured: The improved cervical screening enables early detection of cervical cancer.
The new test can detect the cancer-causing infection before abnormalities develop in the cells, ensuring signs of cervical disease are spotted and treated earlier.
“This new HPV primary screening test is a breakthrough in the way women are tested for cervical disease,” Dr Linda Diggle, Head of Preventive Programmes, said. “It’s a more accurate test that detects the early signs of cervical disease, which means treatment can be given earlier.
“In addition, the new test means women will get their test result returned much quicker. In the past women may have waited up to two months for their result. We’re now seeing most results coming back within two to three weeks and this will undoubtedly help reduce the anxiety of waiting for your cervical screening result.”
From now on, every cervical screening sample taken in Jersey will undergo HPV screening as the first test, which should prevent more cervical cancers.
Pictured: Thanks to the new test, results will also be available quicker.
National experts predict that HPV primary screening, once fully introduced in England, will lead to a 20% decrease in the overall number of cervical cancer cases.
“Until fairly recently, the cytology test was the best method that such specialist labs had available to them,” Adrian O’Keeffe, Pathology Laboratory Manager at Jersey’s General Hospital explained. “Now it’s been superseded by HPV primary screening and we wanted to access this more accurate test for women in Jersey.
“We’ve been negotiating with the NHS laboratory that receives our screening samples to use the newer HPV primary screening method, however, like many new scientific advancements, it’s more expensive. Jersey Cancer Relief funding means we’ve been able to implement this very latest method sooner than we’d expected.”
Video: Facts about cervical cancer.
“We rely on generous donations and fundraising efforts to support people and families dealing with cancer,” Anne Pryke, Chair of Jersey Cancer Relief added.
“Our aim is to help wherever there is a need. When we saw an opportunity to help prevent cervical cancer, we were pleased to support Health and Community Services in introducing this improved screening test for women in Jersey.”
News of the introduction of improved cervical screening tests comes two months after an islander expressed concerns upon learning that her smear test may not be analysed, as she fell outside of the recommended 25 to 64 age bracket.
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.