New study says self-test could prevent up to 1,000 cervical cancer cases a year
Urgent cervical cancer plea issued to women
- More than 3,000 women in the UK are diagnosed with cervical cancer annually, with approximately a third of eligible women overdue for screening.
- A study led by Queen Mary University of London and King’s College London suggests that offering at-home self-tests for HPV could prevent up to 1,000 cervical cancer cases each year.
- The research, conducted across 13 GP practices in West London, found that 52 per cent of women accepted and returned a self-sampling kit when offered in-person at an appointment.
- Uptake was significantly lower for postal offers, at 12 per cent for kits and 5 per cent for letters offering a kit.
- Home-testing kits for HPV are set to be rolled out in England for those overdue for cervical cancer screening, providing an alternative to internal examinations.