January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month and the NHS in the South West is sharing how people can help eliminate cervical cancer by 2040.  

Cervical cancer leads to approximately 685 deaths in England each year. However, through cervical screening and the HPV vaccination programme, eliminating cervical cancer is more achievable than ever before. 

Dr Matthew Dominey, Consultant in Public Health and Screening and Immunisation Lead for NHS England South West said: “Our ask to the public is that, if you are eligible, please take up the opportunities to get your HPV vaccination or cervical screening when invited. 

“In the South West we already have good uptake in both of these services, but we are working to improve this even further, focusing on addressing the inequalities in access and uptake for all eligible individuals. 

“We are committed to eliminating cervical cancer by 2040. We believe this is achievable and are working hard to ensure we have the right screening and vaccination services in place to enable the public to help us reach this goal.” 

Most cervical cancer cases (over 99%) are caused by HPV. However, since the implementation of the NHS HPV vaccination programme, rates of HPV infections and rates of cervical cancer in vaccine-eligible women have decreased dramatically, with the strongest effects seen in those offered vaccination at younger ages.  

HPV vaccination is offered to boys and girls from year 8 in school with 77.9% of girls and 72.8% of boys aged 14-15 in the South West vaccinated by year 10 in the 2023/24 academic year. As well as protecting against cervical cancer, HPV vaccination can also protect men and women against other cancers such as head and neck (mouth and throat) and penile cancers. 

Alongside the HPV vaccine, cervical screening is also an effective tool at reducing cervical cancer rates, saving around 5,000 lives each year.  

Cervical screening helps to detect changes in cervical cells which could, overtime, turn into cervical cancer. By spotting these changes through screening, it enables those pre-cancerous cells to be treated before cancer develops, or if cancer does occur, it can be caught earlier, which may mean it is more treatable.  

Proportionally more people are diagnosed with cervical cancer in the South West when compared to the national rate of 2,700 people per year. To work towards the goal of eliminating cervical cancer, the NHS in the South West has outlined three goals to achieve over the next 4 years:   

1. Increase HPV vaccination rates to at least 90% for boys and girls. 
2. Ensure at least 70% of women are screened by the age of 35 and, again, by the age of 45. 
3. Ensure at least 90% of women diagnosed with cervical disease receive treatment. 

It is important that everyone who is eligible takes up the offer of HPV vaccination and attends their cervical screening invite to help the NHS in the South West achieve this goal. Even if you are not eligible, you can still help eliminate cervical cancer by talking about vaccination and screening with your loved ones. Find out how you can help the South West eliminate cervical cancer by reading the blog on the NHS website.  

Eliminating cervical cancer in England is not only an important public health goal but also a crucial step toward improving women’s overall health and wellbeing and helping us achieve the NHS’s 10-year plan shift to move from treatment to prevention.  

If you are worried about cervical cancer, speak with your GP. Symptoms of cervical cancer include: 

• vaginal bleeding that’s unusual for you – including bleeding during or after sex, between your periods or after the menopause, or having heavier periods than usual 

• changes to your vaginal discharge 

• pain during sex 

• pain in your lower back, between your hip bones (pelvis), or in your lower tummy 

HPV vaccinations are available to boys and girls in year 8 at school (aged 12 to 13 years old) and the vaccinations are also available through GPs to girls under the age of 25, and boys who were born after 1 September 2006, who missed the opportunity to be vaccinated at school.   

Cervical screening is also open to anyone with a cervix aged 25 to 64. Those who are eligible will be sent an invite via the NHS App, as well as via text or letter when required. However, the offer for cervical screening remains open even if the invite was missed and appointments can be made through GPs.  

Find out more about cervical cancer, cervical screening and HPV vaccination on the NHS website.