Eleanor Freeman
Over 1,000,000 people have signed a petition protesting the recent change to cervical cancer screenings in Wales. Screenings were previously offered every three years but now they are offered every five.
Amidst growing concern that cases of this cancer would go undiagnosed, Public Health Wales stated that the new system saves more lives. This is because of successful testing for the human papilloma virus (HPV). However, along with an official petition to the Welsh Parliament, there was enough demonstrated concern to prompt the Senedd to schedule a debate on the subject for 19 January.
The petition
Rachel Paul started the petition directed towards the Welsh Government on 4 January. Petition supporters argue that increasing the length of time between screenings risks missing some cases of cervical cancer. This is especially problematic because almost 100% of cervical cancer cases are preventable. Early detection often means better outcomes for patients. While the Change.org petition received more media attention, the official petition on the Parliament’s website also obtained 30,000 signatures.
Lack of clarity
In response to the outrage, Public Health Wales apologized for not thoroughly explaining the changes. They are based on recommendations from the UK National Screening Committee.
According to Dr. Sharon Hillier PhD FFPH, Director of Screening Division for Public Health Wales, new screening procedures test women for HPV. They will be monitored closely if they test positive at their screening. The HPV virus is what causes abnormal cell growth and virtually all cases of cervical cancer. The virus is very common. 80% of people contract the virus at some point in life, but most of the time the body is able to rid itself of the virus. However, DNA can become damaged when it remains in the body– this may cause cancer down the road, if left untreated.
Previous cervical cancer screening procedures detected abnormalities in the cervix before testing for HPV. Cancer Research UK states: “As having HPV infection comes before abnormal cells developing, HPV primary testing detects women at risk of developing cervical cancer at an earlier point.” Women aged 25 to 49 who test negative can be screened every five years because “their risk of developing cervical cancer is very low.”
Vaccination aids in cancer prevention
The HPV vaccine also plays an integral role in preventing cervical cancer. Beginning in 2008, girls have been offered the immunisation at age 12 or 13. Research shows that the vaccine reduces cervical cancer cases by 90%. In 2018, the vaccination program was extended to boys of the same age. The vaccine will protect boys from cancers such as oral and throat, which are also caused by HPV.
The Minister for Health and Social Services in Wales, Eluned Morgan, addressed recent concerns in a statement. He says, “The combination of immunisation and cervical screening offers the best possible protection against cervical cancer and we expect to see a significant decline in cervical cancers in the near future.”
Continuing concern
Despite the clarification, signatures on the petition continue to rise. People call for a return to the original three year policy due to concerns of missed diagnoses. There is higher concern for those who are unvaccinated for HPV. Comments from people who signed the petition range from telling stories about personal diagnoses of cervical cancer to expressions of support for people with cervixes.
Featured image courtesy of National Cancer Institute on Unsplash. No changes or alterations were made to this image. Image license can be found here.
