Cervical screening knowledge gap 'costing lives'

A knowledge gap around cervical screenings is currently "costing lives", a cancer charity says.

The Eve Appeal says more women need to know they can ask for adjustments to their cervical screenings, which can be painful, uncomfortable or distressing for some.

The test is thought to save about 5,000 lives every year in the UK, but many women do not get tested.

Research commissioned by the charity suggests most women do not know they can make the test easier by asking for longer appointments, smaller speculums, or move to more comfortable positions.

The screening, which tests for the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) - the virus that causes cervical cancer - is offered by the NHS to all women and people with a cervix aged between 25 and 64.

The test involves taking a sample of cells from the cervix. If any abnormal cells are found, they can be removed or monitored to prevent cancer developing.

However, according to latest NHS England data, more than five million eligible women are not up to date with their routine screening, with the lowest uptake being among women aged between 25 and 29 (58%).

Eve Appeal chief executive Athena Lamnisos said this was "worrying" and that any barriers people experience around the screenings could be "easily overcome".

"There are really simple, straightforward things that you can ask for that patients just aren't aware of....basically, you can take control."

The survey of more than 1,100 women was carried out by YouGov ahead of Cervical Cancer Prevention Week.

The charity said women should know they can ask for screening adjustments like:

Ms Lamnisos said disabled people, those with some health conditions and anyone who does not speak English were among those who felt there were barriers to testing.

"Overcoming those challenges and having those information gaps filled, is going to save lives," she added.