Publish date: 3 March 2022
Attending regular cervical screening when invited by your GP practice can help stop cancer before it starts.
We are backing the latest Help Us Help You – Cervical Screening Campaign launched recently, by urging women and people with a cervix aged 25-64, registered with a GP practice in Tameside and Glossop, to respond to their cervical screening invitation letters and to book an appointment at their GP practice if they missed their last one.
In Tameside and Glossop the latest available data for cervical screening attendance showed 1 in 4 women are not taking up the opportunity to be screened when invited.
Screening helps prevent cervical cancer by checking for a virus called high-risk HPV which causes nearly all cervical cancers. This is the best way to find out who is at higher risk of developing the cervical cell changes that over time could potentially lead to cervical cancer.
Those registered as female with their GP practice are invited for routine screening every three years if they are aged 25-49 and every five years if they are aged 50-64. Those registered as male will need to request an appointment from their GP or a local sexual health clinic.
Any cervical cell changes can be treated, preventing cervical cancer. Don’t be alarmed if you have HPV as it does not mean you have cervical cancer - it’s a common virus that most people will get at some point in their lives.
Two women die every day from cervical cancer in England. Yet it is one of the most preventable cancers and getting screened can help stop it before it starts.
It has been estimated that in England, cervical screening prevents 70% of cervical cancer deaths and that if everyone attended screening regularly, 83% of cervical cancer deaths could be prevented.
The campaign provides information and tips to those who may be worried or embarrassed about cervical screening.
For more information, visit www.nhs.uk/cervicalscreening
