Cervical Cancer Prevention Week – 20th to 26th January 2025

  cervical cancer prevention week Cervical Cancer Prevention Week will be from 20th January to 26th January 2025 to raise awareness about cervical cancer. This campaign aims to bring attention to those whose lives have been impacted by cervical cancer, to find solutions, and to remember those we have lost. In the UK, around 3,200 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer every year, with over 800 losing their lives. For some of us, cancer is personal. Whether you have been diagnosed before or know someone who has, it can be comforting to remember that people do care, and campaigns like this one exist to work towards a day when cervical cancer becomes a thing of the past. The UK has the tools to get there. We have a wide-reaching HPV vaccination programme, and highly effective cervical screening and colposcopy services. Innovations in these programmes mean we are preventing more cases than ever before, and we have the mental health support to match the treatment with charities like Macmillan leading the way. However, we also face inequity in access, falling uptake, and other barriers preventing progress. The potential to eliminate cancer is something that should be celebrated and embraced. To get there, we must tackle the issues of today, as well as look to the programmes of the future.

6 facts about cervical cancerGoing for your cervical screening can help prevent cervical cancer.

  • 3,200 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer in the UK alone every year
  • Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women globally
  • Incidence is highest amongst women aged 30-35
  • Untreated HPV infection causes around 95% of cervical cancer cases
  • Cervical cancer can be cured if diagnosed at an early stage and treated promptly. The earlier the cancer is found, the easier it is to treat
  • In the UK, 1 in 4 people don’t attend their cervical screening test

Cervical cancer and mental health

Being diagnosed with cervical cancer can have significant physical, emotional, and financial impacts which can last far beyond diagnosis and treatment. It is normal to experience a range of difficult thoughts and feelings that may change, go away, and come back over time. Some people have lots of emotions while others may feel numb or as if this were happening to someone else. There is no right or wrong way to think and feel, but it is important to recognise what you are going through to seek help if you feel you need it. A cervical cancer diagnosis and treatment can trigger many different feelings, including: Vaccination your child against HPV can help prevent cervical cancer.
  • Fear and anxiety
  • Worry
  • Isolation or loneliness
  • Sadness or depression
  • Anger or irritability
  • Guilt
  • Embarrassment or self-consciousness
  • Grief or loss