Cervical cancer

This devastating disease is the second most common cancer in women under 35. Find out the facts and learn how to protect yourself.

It's not easy to say to someone but, when the c-word comes up, it's not all bad news. Despite the scary statistic that almost 3,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer in the UK every year, a staggering number of lives are also saved. Cancer Research UK found that since 1988, smear tests have halted a cervical cancer epidemic and saved 100,000 lives. And the good news doesn't end there. Thanks to smears, around 75% of all cancer cases in women are prevented.

Of course not all ladies are as lucky and, while everyone's hearts go out to Jade Goody and her family, the former Big Brother star has given us girls a gift. "We hope Jade's plight will encourage every woman who receives an invitation to attend cervical screening to do so without delay," says Dr Lesley Walker from Cancer Research UK.

To keep yourself safe, go for a cervical smear when you're invited. Normally this is every three years between the ages of 25 and 64 in England and between 20 and 60 in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

The cause
If you want to point the finger of blame, then aim straight at certain strains of
the human papillomavirus (HPV). A staggering three quarters of us are infected with it at some point in our lives, but before you panic, having HPV doesn't necessarily mean it will progress into cancer. In fact, only a miniscule proportion of women with HPV go on to develop cervical cancer.

HPV is contracted via skin-to-skin contact with an infected person. This includes intimate contact and unfortunately, a condom won't protect all of your private parts. Your risk of having HPV is greater if you lost your virginity at a young age, had a high number of sexual partners, have had herpes or chlamydia, suffered a miscarriage or have recently started a new sexual relationship. This list is not exhaustive and, if even you do develop HPV, it's not always a direct result of any of these factors.

From culprit to cancer
So how does the seemingly harmless HPV develop into cancer? If you have the cancer-causing strain of HPV, it can cause the cells of your cervix to change. This process can develop totally naturally, but if you smoke or have a weakened immune system you're at a higher risk. If left untreated, over time the cells in your cervix can become cancerous, this happens in the following stages:

    * An abnormal smear test result detects pre-cancerous cells in the cervix.
    * Gradually, these cells develop into a cancer that grows around the cervix.
    * The cancer spreads from the cervix into the surrounding tissue.
    * It spreads to the pelvis.
    * The cancer spreads to other parts of the body.

Unsettling? Yes. Unstoppable? Not necessarily. If pre-cancerous or cancerous cells are detected early at the first stage, you have a very high chance of surviving this particular scare. The earlier you're diagnosed the better, and often, a smear test detects changes to the cells before they've develop into cancer so you can beat the beast before it begins.

Detect and defect
The most common signs that you have pre-cancerous or cancerous cells in your cervix are abnormal bleeding, "Any woman, no matter what age, who has symptoms that give cause for concern - like bleeding between periods, or after sex should discuss them with their doctor, " advises Dr Lesley Walker.

Other symptoms include an unpleasant-smelling discharge or discomfort during sex. Of course, these can be indications for other conditions, but if you're concerned, it's imperative you speak with your doctor. It can be an embarrassing topic to talk about, but the sooner you see your GP, the greater your chances are of stopping the cancer from spreading.

If you have an abnormal smear and cancerous cells are found in your cervix, the process is straightforward, effective and can prevent cancer from developing at all. The treatment you have depends on what stage the cancer is at, but the emphasis is on early detection. Make sure you're registered with a GP and that the surgery has your most recent contact details, so when you're next invited to have a smear test you'll hot foot it to your doctor!

For more information contact Cancer Research UK's cancer information nurses on 0808 800 4040 or visit cancerhelp.org.uk