Introduction
To mark cervical cancer prevention week 2025, Dr Harrison Carter, a medical doctor and Director of Screening for NHS England, hears from Anne, Beth, Sophie, Sian, about their own cervical screening journeys. Alongside Doctors Behl, Imtiaz-Umer, Ruwende, Owolabi, Patel, Hussain and Rukeya Miah, Dr Carter addresses the information gaps that many people have around cervical screening, human papilloma virus (or HPV) and the role of HPV vaccination. Further information about cervical screening, HPV vaccination and cervical cancer is available on the nhs.uk website.
Transcript
Dr Harrison Carter, NHS England
Welcome to our NHS England podcast to coincide with National Cervical Cancer Awareness Week 2025.
In this podcast we are pleased to talk to Anne, Beth, Sophie, Sian, about their own cervical screening journeys, and to address the information gaps that many people have around cervical screening, human papilloma virus (or HPV) and the role of HPV vaccination.
And it is important that we vaccinate all of our children to protect them against high-risk HPV linked to not only cervical cancer but head, neck and other cancers too.
Anne, patient
My name is Anne, I’m now 44 years old, I’m a person who never went for cervical screening.
Dr Harrison Carter, NHS England
HI, I’m Dr Harrison Carter, I’m the Director of Screening for NHS England, and I’m also a medical doctor.
Dr Behl, GP
Hi, I’m Dr Behl and I am a GP in the west Midlands.
Dr Imtiaz-Umer, GP
Hi, I’m Dr Shehla Imtiaz-Umer, I am a GP in the Midlands.
Dr Ruwende, NHS England
Hi, my name is Dr Jo Ruwende, I’m a consultant in public health and the cancer screening public health lead in London.
Dr Farzana Hussain, GP
Hi, Dr Farzana Hussain, GP in East London
Anne, patient
My mum and my sisters, they kept telling me that I needed to go for cervical screening. It’d been over 15 years since I’d [last] been screened.
Because I’ve been married to my wife, it’s now 13 years. I never really thought I was at risk [of cervical cancer].
Dr Behl, GP
So, just to say, this is not a test for cancer. It is about preventing cancer.
Dr Hussain, GP
So generally, screening happens at practices like mine, with our practice nurses, or you can go to family planning clinics, lots of places to go.
Dr Jo Ruwende, NHS England
We will take a small sample of cells from your cervix, which is the opening to your womb, and actually check if you have any of the high-risk types of human papillomavirus (HPV) which may cause changes to your cervical cells.
Dr Hussain, GP
And the thing that’s important to remember, is that cervical screening is not a test for cancer, it is a test to help prevent cancer. So, even before we feel ill or get any symptoms. It’s a test to prevent that cancer happening.
Anne, patient
I was really, really scared of going, because I hadn’t been screened in so long and was having to go and admit that and not really knowing what the process was, to be screened.
So, when I went, I did actually admit to the nurse that I hadn’t been screened for a very, very long time.
She was really nice. There was no judgment about it. She didn’t make me feel uncomfortable or kind of tell me off because I hadn’t been. She literally said to me “Well, at least you’re here now. You’ve come, you can have your screening, we can get you checked out.”
She was absolutely brilliant.
They did the screen, which is not the most comfortable or nicest thing to happen. I did have some bleeding afterwards it only lasted a couple of hours, to be fair.
Dr Carter, NHS England
You may have some spotting or light bleeding after your cervical screening test. This is very common and should go away after a few hours, but contact your GP surgery if you have any concerns.
Anne, patient
I think the most nervous thing for me was, was waiting for the results back.
Dr Ruwende, NHS England
So cervical screening is a test to prevent cancer, before it starts. When you have your cervical screening test, we will check to see if you have the high-risk types of HPV and if these are not found when we test your sample – you will not require any further tests.
Anne, patient
My wife messaged me to say the results had come and it said I did have HPV. And to be fair I had no idea what HPV was.
Beth was also told she has HPV.
Beth, patient
I had my first cervical screening at the age of 26. When I received a HPV positive result, I wasn’t sure if I should feel embarrassed of worried, but after speaking to my nurse I realised that I didn’t need to feel either of those things.
Dr Ruwende, NHS England
HPV is human papillomavirus, and this is a group of over 100 viruses effecting the skin. And most of us, are infected by one type of HPV or another at some point in our lives.
Dr Behl, GP
It’s symptomless. It usually just goes away on its own or it can stay in the body for many years without causing a problem.
Beth, patient
I didn’t realise just how common HPV is, and that most people have it at some point in their lives will have it. My nurse explained that HPV is recognised as a cause of cervical cancer, but it doesn’t mean you have cancer.
As it’s been one year since I had my HPV positive result, I’m going back for a check-up with my GP [practice] next week.
Dr Ruwende, NHS England
So, if you have HPV and no evidence of abnormal changes to the cervical cells, you need another cervical screening appointment in one year.
Dr Imtiaz-Umer
HPV DNA is found in over 99% of cervical cancers.
Anne, patient
I had an appointment to talk about the HPV. I was going to have a procedure, that would have gotten [sic] rid of the HPV and abnormal cells.
Dr Ruwende, NHS England
If HPV is found and you have abnormal cell changes, you might need a colposcopy. A simple procedure to look at your cervix. A small sample of cells – known as a biopsy – may be taken for testing to see how much the cells have changed.
As sometimes over time, HPV can cause changes to cervical cells that can turn into cancer if they are not found and are not treated. So, you might be offered treatment to remove the abnormal cells.
Anne, patient
I went to see a doctor at Bradford Royal Infirmary. They were really lovely. The doctor explained what was going to happen, what the procedure was, and that it shouldn’t be painful.
When I had the procedure, they numbed the area, sample of cells, were taken from my cervix, the remainder of the abnormal cells were removed by laser. I had a nurse next to me, bless her, and she was holding my hand.
The doctor came to see me to tell me my results would be sent off, but she was like if you’ve got any question or if you’re worried, just give me a call. She gave me a letter with all the information on, her number on there.
Dr Behl, GP
If you do have HPV, do be reassured that it doesn’t mean that you have or will get cancer, but do talk to your health professional about it.
Dr Imtiaz-Umer, GP
While some treatment is available if needed, most women will have a normal screening result.
Anne, patient
My next results came from the colposcopy. The sample cells were found to be moderate to high grade – I learned this wasn’t cancer but some of them were highly likely to have progressed to cancer had they not been removed. They wanted me to go back and have, another cervical screening, to see the results from the cervical screening. So, I went back again three months later.
They came back, I still had HPV which they were hoping would have gone once they’d done the procedure. I still had a lot of abnormal cells.
Dr Behl, GP
HPV can stay in our bodies for a long time without being detected.
Anne, patient
They wanted me to see a consultant this time. It still wasn’t a good picture. I still had HPV, and I still had high amounts of abnormal cells. He was really open with it. He said to me, we can do the procedure again, take more samples and to clear out the cervix more but that the cervix was in such a bad way, that he didn’t feel that it would make any difference.
In these situations, my children are grown, the amount of abnormal cells that were there, I took the decision that a hysterectomy was the right thing to do.
It all went through pretty quickly, from then on in, I had to go for check-up. I had keyhole surgery. It wasn’t a super long operation. I genuinely didn’t have much pain to be fair and I only had to stay in overnight, which was really good.
I got my results and the doctor actually rung me, and he said I just wanted to tell you, you’re completely clear now. The HPV had gone, the abnormal cells have gone. I asked well, do I need to continue needing to be screened?
And he was like, “No, no, that’s it now. Your cervix has gone. There’s nothing there to check.”
I want everyone who can possibly benefit from screening to know it’s there for them and how to access it. How can we make sure people’s appointments go as smoothly as possible?
Dr Owolabi, NHS England
Hello, I’m Dr Bola Owolabi, I’m a GP in the Midlands and I’m also NHS England’s director for reducing health care inequalities
Dr Anisa Patel, GP
Thank you, Dr Owolabi. I am Dr Anisa Patel, I’m a GP and I was diagnosed with stage three bowel cancer at the age of 39.
Ms Miah, nursing and midwifery
Hi, I’m Rukeya Miah, Deputy Associate Director of nursing and senior midwife.
Dr Owolabi, NHS England
It is important to say, that despite the success of these screening programmes, for various reasons, including fear, misinformation, some people miss their screening appointments.
Anne, patient
I definitely agree that there are some misunderstandings out there. I wasn’t in a relationship with a man. I had never been told by anyone that I needed cervical screening. but for some people like Sophie, they don’t know what to expect.
Sophie, patient
I’d heard from a few of my friends that it was an okay experience, I hadn’t heard any bad stories at all to be honest, I just didn’t really know what to expect.
Dr Hussain, GP
Every woman who is aged between 25 to 64, will be invited by letter.
If you don’t know much about cervical screening, don’t worry, there’s a great video online at nhs.uk.
Dr Owolabi, NHS England
Absolutely, but what I would like to say to our listeners is, we are here for you.
Sophie, patient
The nurse explained everything. She sat me down and she literally explained why they were doing it, what she was going to do. She was reassuring the whole time, just checking that I was okay and explaining every single step of what she was doing. So, it was honestly just such an easy experience from booking it, to going, getting the result.
And I’d just like to say to anyone who hasn’t booked yet, to just book it.
Dr Hussain, GP
If you’re embarrassed or concerned at all, just talk to GP practices like mine or nurses, we are always here for you.
Dr Imtiaz-Umer, GP
You can ask your GP surgery to ensure it’s a female member of staff who will take your sample. The test is not painful, but it can feel uncomfortable when the sample is being taken. And if that is the case, then please ask for a different sized speculum.
Ms Miah, nursing and midwifery
I will say to you and reassure you, there is upmost and absolute respect and dignity during those times.
Dr Imtiaz-Umer, GP
The staff who do your procedure, understand how you’re feeling and take steps to maintain your dignity.
Ms Miah, nursing and midwifery
And that sensitivity, that support’s there to talk you through the procedure and offer you every support because it is anxiety provoking and again there’s no judgement what-so-ever.
Dr Behl, GP
If your worried or find it difficult to go, perhaps your scared or you’ve had a previous traumatic experience, please talk to someone you can trust at your GP practice, or a family member who can support you.
Ms Miah, nursing and midwifery
As health care professionals, we are here to support you.
Anne, patient
I had a conversation with Grace (my daughter) the other day about this. And she was like, I’m never going to have that done Mum. I don’t want them down there messing about.
But I was like “It’s really important Grace, that you go do it. Because if I’d gone and I’d had my screening then it would never have got to the stage that it had got to”.
My wife, she was as bad as me. I was like, you have to, have to have to go. It’s important. Luckily hers came back and she was fine.
Dr Patel, GP
What I also see, is that sometimes people don’t quite understand that screening is for patients who do not have symptoms.
So often I’m told ‘I’m too well, I don’t need a screening test’ or, ‘I’m absolutely fine, I’m at the peak of my health,’ and actually what we are trying to do, is actually find disease at its earliest stages when it’s earliest stages, when it’s most curable and preventable, because we know that prevention saves lives.
Dr Hussain, GP
Now there is some evidence to suggest that take-up of breast and cervical screening is lower in Asian women, and there are multiple reasons for that, and we know that there are some health inequalities, and one of our jobs in the health service is to make sure that every single woman has that right and has that access to equitable health care.
Dr Carter, NHS England
It is so important that we work to make sure that people get their cervical screening invite, that we offer appointments when people are able to attend, and that people have the information they need to make an informed decision about the HPV vaccine and cervical screening.
Anne, patient
Thankfully, though, thanks to HPV vaccine and attending your regular screenings, I know most people won’t have such a scary story as mine. Grace [my daughter] has had the HPV vaccine, Ryan [My Son] had it too.
Dr Imtiaz-Umer, GP
We can potentially eliminate cervical cancer over the next 15 years if both young men and women get the HPV vaccine when they are invited.
Dr Ruwende, NHS England
Now there are certain types of HPV virus that are considered to be high risk because they can cause cervical cancers, but they can also cause over cancers, such as anal, penial and throat cancers.
But through cervical screening and HPV vaccination – we can reduce the risk, can eliminate cervical cancer, we can also reduce the risk of genital warts and the other cancers that I’ve mentioned.
Dr Hussain, GP
So, when your 12 or 13 son, daughter or child you care for, brings home that letter from school asking you to consent to their HPV vaccine, please remember that this vaccine is for all children to help protect them from cancers caused by the HPV virus.
Dr Imtiaz-Umer, GP
The HPV vaccine is offered to our children when they are in school. So, when they are in year 8 of school. But older children can also get it from years 9 to 11 you can get the vaccine in school, but you can also get it from community clinics.
Dr Hussain, GP
If your child is home-schooled, please contact your school liaison service or your GP practice for help to get the vaccine.
Dr Imtiaz-Umer, GP
If you do miss it through school and community clinics, you can also get it through your GP practice and that’s part of the catch-up service for both boys and girls from the age of 14 – up until their 25th birthday. And it applies to boys born after 1 September 2006 who became eligible from September 2019.
Dr Hussain, GP
If you are aged under 25 and you’ve not been vaccinated, you can ask your GP to vaccinate you for free now.
Dr Carter, NHS England
Gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men are at higher risk from HPV. If you’re a man under 45 who has sex with men and you attend a sexual health or HIV clinic, you can get vaccinated against HPV there. You’re eligible for the vaccine up until your 45th birthday.
Anne, patient
So, like I said earlier, both my son and my daughter have had the HPV vaccine. This wasn’t around when I was under 25 or at school, but I wish it was.
Sian, patient
I had stage one cervical cancer. Luckily it was picked up really early by the NHS and they were able to operate really quickly. If I would have left it, if I was to miss that appointment, if I had ignored it, it would have spread and things would have been a lot different for me.
Dr Ruwende, NHS England
Cervical cancer, affects the cervix which is the opening between the womb and the vagina.
Dr Bola Owolabi
Find cancer early and it’s at that early stage that treatment is most likely to be less invasive, and also more likely to lead to a successful outcome for the patient.
Sian, patient
It just goes to show how important it is to attend that appointment when its due.
Dr Behl, GP
Please be alert to the symptoms of cervical cancer such as unusual discharge or bleeding. This includes bleeding during or after sex, between your periods or after the menopause, or if you notice that you are having heavier periods than usual. Pain in your lower back, your tummy or in between your hip bones which is an area known as the pelvis.
Dr Imtiaz-Umer, GP
So, these symptoms are similar to other conditions such as fibroids or endometriosis, and may not be cancer, but please make an appointment at your GP practice as soon as possible, so that we can make sure that you get the right care and the right treatment.
Dr Patel, GP
As I know firsthand, you can get cancer at any age. If something isn’t right, please go and see your GP.
Dr Owolabi, NHS England
And make sure to make an appointment with a GP practice if you feel something is different.
Dr Ruwende, NHS England
We can eliminate cervical cancer by 2040 if everyone who’s eligible gets the HPV vaccination, and all women and people with a cervix have their cervical screening.
Beth, patient
If I could give advice to anyone that receives an HPV positive result, it’s don’t panic. And if you are worried speak to a healthcare professional for advice. It’s nothing to be ashamed of.
Dr Owolabi, NHS England
I’d like to say thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to help lots of people learn more about how we can work together to spot cancer earlier and save many more lives.
Dr Patel, GP
Thank you so much for listening, and just to remind you, you can also find out more about cancer and screening online at nhs.uk
Anne, patient
I’ve learned more and hope you have too. Thank you and goodbye.
Dr Carter, NHS England
Thank you to all of our guests. Especially, Anne, Beth, Sophie, Sian and for sharing their own experiences.
I am also grateful to our amazing line up of doctors and midwife Rukeya, for sharing their advice and information. I really hope that they have answered any questions you have about cervical screening and HPV vaccination. But if you are nervous about it, or have any questions please talk to someone at your GP practice.
For now, it’s thank you for listening and goodbye.