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Thread; Cervical screening myths & facts.
Myth: Cervical screening is a test for cancer.
Cervical screening is now initially a test for HPV. That'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's because MOST (not all) cancers are caused by HPV infection. So when you go for #cervicalscreening they test for HPV.
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's possible you can go for a screening and have cancer that the screening won't detect. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6516188/
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
Myth 3: Cervical screening is risk free. Although the initial screening is low risk, the main risk with cervical screening is subsequent overtreatment of 'abnormal' cells that would never have become cancerous. This can have various harmful effects https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cervical-screening/why-its-important/
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
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/
Whereas the life time risk of an 'abnormal' 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.
