Mother calls for rethink of changes to cervical cancer screenings

A woman whose grandmother and mother had both cervical cancer called the Inversion of recent changes Lie the intervals between vital projections.

Gemma Barley, 34, had to undergo a biopsy in January 2022 after his regular Three -year verification Found abnormal cells in his collar – despite the previous screening for his previous screening.

She fears that if she had been subject to New NHS rules in England – which lengthened the time between the controls at five – The result could have been worse.

“After a regular smear test in 2022, I received a letter to say that we found something abnormal in your smear and I said that I needed a biopsy,” said the mother in one.

“It was as if my full life was going on before my eyes. I thought my son was going to stay without mom. It was horrible. “

The cervical cancer affects Ms. Barley’s family for generations. She lost her grandmother at the age of 54, just three months after being diagnosed in 2004.

His mother also received a diagnosis of cervical cancer in 2018 and had to undergo hysterectomy to alleviate the risks of the disease.

Ms. Barley waited four weeks for her results – who said that the cells were not cancerous.

But the graduate of psychology said that experience proves how much things can change, and fears recent changes in projections for cervical cancer could “put the lives of women in danger”.

Women aged 25 to 49 who test negative for the human papillomavirus (HPV) will now be invited to cervical screening every five years instead of all three, under a new NHS Guidelines.

According to Cancer UK, almost all cases of cervical cancer are caused by HPV. Most of the time, HPV is eliminated from the body by itself, but some types can cause cancer if they remain in the body for a long time, so require additional monitoring.

After seeing the changes planned, Ms. Barley started a petition To make them reverse and say: “I was really angry when I saw the changes. Due to my first -hand experience, it petrified me.

“My first smear was good, and I have not seen any significant change in my life since then. But my second smear found anomalies. This is how speed could change – and yet they are happy to extend it for two more years. ”

The change, which should come into force next month in England, follows the recommendations of the National British screening committee.

According to the analysis of the King’s College in London, extending the five-year screening interval for HPV-negative women is just as safe as the current interval over three years, with a similar rate of cancer detection.

An NHS spokesman in England said: “We recognize that changes in cervical screening may seem to be concerned, but want to reassure everyone that this new approach is based on robust scientific evidence and a recommendation of experts from the National British screening committee.

“The NHS cervical screening program is testing for HPV and uses a better and more precise test than before.

“This personalized approach guarantees that everyone receives the right level of screening according to their individual risk factors, offering better protection while reducing unnecessary procedures.”

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Social Care said: “These changes are based on robust scientific evidence and a recommendation of experts from the British National Screening Committee.

“The NHS cervical screening program is testing for HPV which is a more precise test than the old cytology test (smear), so the intervals for those who are not at high risk can be securely extended from three to five years.

“If you test positive for HPV, you can be assured that you will be closely monitored with additional tests and tracking meetings.”