Cervical screening is sometimes referred to as the ’smear test’. doctors diagnose around 3000 new cases of cervical cancer in the UK every year. it can affect women of any age who are or were once sexually active. The cancer usually starts in cells on the surface of the cervix and begins to grow and divide out of control and eventually spreading into the tissue of the cervix. From there they may move to other parts of the body such as the vagina, womb or bowel. A virus called HPV can cause changes in the cervix that may lead to cancer.
The cancer doesn’t have symptoms but a visit to the doctor is needed if you notice you are, bleeding between periods, bleeding after you have been through menopause any unpleasant virginal discharge, These symptoms may be signs of other common condition - they do not necessarily mean you have cancer.
