New guidance has
been produced to help GPs identify symptoms and diagnose young
women with cervical cancer early, Health Minister Ann Keen
announced today.
The guidance was produced after a working group of the Advisory
Committee on Cervical Screening (ACCS) was set up to look at the
management of young women with gynaecological symptoms.
The working group found that women that visited their GP with
abnormal bleeding experienced delay in diagnosis because they did
not receive a full pelvic examination.
The guidance provides GPs with an easy to follow algorithm to
help in the management of these young women and re-emphasises
existing NICE guidelines around gynaecological symptoms.
Health Minister Ann Keen said:
“Over the past year I have met with a number of young women who
have had cervical cancer. I have been touched by their stories and
have resolved to do everything I can to help prevent and treat
cervical cancer in young women.
"The independent Advisory Committee on Cervical
Screening (ACCS) told us that screening women under the age of 25
did more harm than good but that more work needs to be done to
ensure patients with symptoms are treated correctly.
“That is why this new guidance will support GPs and practice
nurses to identify symptoms and refer where necessary to
specialist services."
National Clinical Director for Cancer Sir Mike Richards said:
“We have heard from a number of young women under the age of 25
who developed cervical cancer and they all had symptoms but did
not receive a full pelvic examination to check for abnormalities
in the cervix.
“To help GPs follow the correct procedure we have produced a
pathway which maps the steps they need to take when women aged
20-24 present with post-coital bleeding and bleeding between menstruation.”
Chairman of the RCGP Professor Steve Field said:
"The cervical screening programme is helping us save
thousands of lives every year.
“We welcome this new guidance; it is a really positive step that
will assist us in making earlier diagnoses for younger women aged
20-24, which will in turn improve the outcomes for those at risk,
and ultimately save lives."
Director of cervical cancer charity Jo’s Trust, Robert Music,
said:
“The impact of cervical cancer on a woman's life and
that of her family cannot be overstated.
“Sadly we hear too often of devastated parents losing daughters,
of children losing mothers and husbands losing wives.
“And if they survive, they may have to go through invasive and
painful treatments and lose their ability to have children.
“We hope this guideline will result in earlier recognition of
symptoms, earlier diagnosis and a better outcome for women
diagnosed with cervical cancer. “
Notes to Editors
For media enquiries, to attend the press conference or arrange
an interview please contact the DH newsdesk on 020 7210 5221. A
copy of the new guideline and can be found at
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/Cancer/index.htmFollowing the
review of the cervical screening age by the Advisory Committee on
Cervical Screening (ACCS) in May 2009 members unanimously agreed
that the screening start age should remain at age 25. Cases of
cervical cancer in young women are rare with around 50 per year
and between 0-5 deaths in England.The NICE Referral Guideline for
Suspected Cancer (2005) clearly states that that when women
present with gynaecological symptoms, “the primary healthcare
professional should undertake a full pelvic examination, including
speculum examination of the cervix.” The guidance also says that
this could be performed by a practice nurse experienced in
cervical screening, and gives a link to order the NHS Cancer
Screening Programmes publication Cervix chart for sample takers in
primary care.
Contacts:
Department of Health
Phone: 020 7210 5221
NDS.DH@coi.gsi.gov.uk