Teenage cervical cancer death prompts reminder for women

Wednesday 02 April 2014

Women are being urged to get checked out if they have any symptoms of cervical cancer.

The recent death in the UK of a 19-year-old aspiring model who died from the disease has prompted the reminder from the Health department.

They say it’s vital women get referred to the gynaecology clinic at the hospital as soon as possible if they experience abnormal bleeding between periods, bleeding after sex, an abnormal discharge or pain during sex – all of which are symptoms of the disease.

Consultant gynaecologist Dr Fiona Nelson said: “Doctors in the UK and in Jersey are correctly taught that a cervical smear is not the answer if a woman has symptoms but that urgent referral to hospital is paramount. This is because the smear test is not a diagnostic test for cancer nor is it a perfect test – for example, a smear test performed on a woman experiencing symptoms could show a negative result even though cancer or some other condition may be present. This may falsely reassure the woman and her doctor that all is well, when in fact what any woman who is experiencing symptoms needs is urgent gynaecological referral to hospital for investigation.

“The smear test looks for cervical cell changes in women with no symptoms. In women aged under 30, these changes happen frequently but tend to go away of their own accord. Cell changes are particularly common in women aged under 25. This is because it is at these young ages when women tend to have most exposure to the Human Papillomavirus (HPV)."

Research has shown that 25 is the optimal age to start cervical screening.

Dr Nelson said: “To carry out smear tests and treat cell changes in women under 25 risks damage to the cervix, which in turn can lead to women having late miscarriages in the future, also to premature deliveries with the risk of babies dying or having disabilities if they are born very early.”

Meanwhile parents are being reminded of the importance of their daughters getting the HPV vaccine at age 12 or 13 which prevents over 70% of all cervical cancers. Health say that 93% of girls in school year eight took up the free HPV vaccine this year and the department want that figure to be even higher.

Dr Linda Diggle from the Public Health Department said: “Provided the vaccination course is given before girls become sexually active, this course of injections will protect them against HPV types that cause the vast majority of cervical cancer cases.

“Cervical cancer is not hereditary. We know it is caused by HPV infection and that HPV infection in women is part and parcel of normal life and relationships. HPV infection and the resulting cell changes tend to regress in young women – that is, the infection and the abnormalities tend to disappear on their own. But sadly, this doesn’t always happen and very rarely cases of cervical cancer can occur, sometimes developing very fast. We advise parents that encouraging their daughter to have the vaccine at age 12/13 is one of the most important things they can do to protect her in the future."