Read on Twitter
Thread; Cervical screening myths & facts.
Myth: Cervical screening is a test for cancer.
Cervical screening is now initially a test for HPV. That& #39;s because MOST (not all) cancers are caused by HPV infection. So when you go for #cervicalscreening they test for HPV.
Myth: Cervical screening is a test for cancer.
Cervical screening is now initially a test for HPV. That& #39;s because MOST (not all) cancers are caused by HPV infection. So when you go for #cervicalscreening they test for HPV.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cervical-screening/">https://www.nhs.uk/condition...
IF your sample is positive for HPV, you will either be asked to come back for another test or go for colposcopy, a more detailed examination.
However a percentage of tumours found in cervical cancer are HPV negative, so it& #39;s possible you can go for a screening and have cancer that the screening won& #39;t detect. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6516188/">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/artic...
Myth 2: if abnormal cells are found on your cervix this means you have or will get cancer. There are 3 grades of abnormal cells, none of which are cancer. https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/worried-about-cancer/pre-cancerous-and-genetic-conditions/cin">https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-in...
Myth 3: Cervical screening is risk free. Although the initial screening is low risk, the main risk with cervical screening is subsequent overtreatment of & #39;abnormal& #39; cells that would never have become cancerous. This can have various harmful effects https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cervical-screening/why-its-important/">https://www.nhs.uk/condition...
Myth 4, Young women are most at risk from cervical cancer. Cervical cancer incidence (ie first diagnosis is most common in the 30-34 age group). However the peak mortality rate for cervical cancer is in woman aged 85-89 https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type/cervical-cancer/mortality">https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-pr...
Myth 5: All women with a cervix HAVE to have cervical screening. Cervical screening is a choice, and what actual difference it makes to mortality rates is not known. Estimates are that it may actually prolong life in 1 in 1000 women who have screening. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12714468/ ">https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12714468/...
Whereas the life time risk of an & #39;abnormal& #39; result can be as high as 40% for a woman born in 1960 .
Tweet 1. Most CERVICAL cancers obvs are caused by HPV infection. But HPV is associated with a range of cancers including oral and penile cancers.
