The future may see cervical cancer gone for good

Recent evidence has found the HPV vaccination to be so successful at preventing cervical cancer that scientists believe one day the cancer may be eradicated.

The vaccination has been used for over 10 years and is currently given to girls aged 12 and 13 in order to protect them from the human papilloma virus (HPV causes most cases of cervical cancer).

HPV describes a group of over 100 viruses, however many are harmless. The HPV vaccination protects people from four different types of high-risk HPV – 6, 11, 16 and 18.

A recent review of 65 studies that together account for over 60 million people has found there to be a significant fall in pre-cancerous growths and HPV cases since the vaccination has been introduced.

The review looked at results from before and after the vaccination in 14 highly developed countries, including the UK, and found that:

• The number of girls between the ages of 15 and 19 infected with HPV 16 and 18 dropped by 83%.
• The number of women between the ages of 20 and 24 infected with HPV 16 and 18 dropped by 66%.
• The number of girls between the ages of 15 and 19 found to have pre-cancerous growths dropped by 51%.
• The number of women between the ages of 20 and 24 found to have pre-cancerous growths dropped by 31%.

Currently, around 850 people die from cervical cancer each year, and around 3,200 are diagnosed with the disease.

Eradication of a disease is defined as there being less than four cases out of 100,000 people. Scientists believe that if girls continue to be vaccinated at such a high rate then elimination of cervical cancer may well be possible.

It is important to remember that the HPV vaccination only protects people from four different types of HPV, and therefore it is essential that women continue to attend cervical screenings.

Amanda Cavanagh, a Medical Negligence Specialist at Ashtons Legal, says: “This is excellent news.  Anything which can protect against, or lessen the chances of contracting cervical cancer is a massive breakthrough. Hopefully, the previous blunders surrounding smear tests have now been addressed and with this added layer of protection by vaccine, we will see a decrease in the amount of reported cervical cancers and deaths as a result.”