World Cervical screening awareness week 2026 started this Monday, 15th June and runs until the 21st June. Distinct from Cervical Cancer Awareness week in January, this week focuses specifically on encouraging uptake and raising awareness for cervical cancer screenings. It aims to offer accessible information so that people with cervixes can feel more comfortable in making an informed decision about attending.

Pharmora has supported a client previously to complete a clinical trial investigating a potential treatment option for cervical cancer, so we understand the relevance of therapies in this area and want to highlight how important screening can be in preventing cancer.

What are Cervical cancer screenings and why are they important?

Cervical cancer is one of the few types of cancer where there is a screening tool available in many countries. It tests for the presence of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), a key risk factor for developing cervical cancer and found in over 99% of all cervical cancers. Screenings also detect if there are any abnormal cells in the cervix, which if left untreated, may develop into cancerous cells. These methods allow for early detection and thus timely treatment that saves lives.

As well as screenings, there are preventative measures that can reduce the risk of developing this type of cancer. In 2008, an immunisation program for cervical cancer was introduced in schools in the UK, meaning most people with a cervix under the age of 30 received the HPV vaccine as a child.

In 2023, the UK NHS pledged to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040, through encouraging more people with a cervix to come forward for their cervical screening and by making it as easy as possible for people to get the lifesaving HPV vaccination.

However, despite these efforts, cervical cancer continues to affect a lot of people around the world. It is the 4th most common cancer in women and 9th most lethal cancer worldwide. In the UK, screenings are offered to people with cervixes aged 25-64 every 5 years, however according to NHS England, nearly one in three people miss their appointment. Attendance rates in young people are particularly low in more recent years, with only 55.5% of 25 to 29-year-olds attending their screenings.

Regular screening can prevent up to 75% of cervical cancers by detecting HPV early. A post here by our CMO Dr Stephanie-Jayne Jones outlines what someone might expect during a cervical cancer screening, as well as a relevant patient story through the eyes of a GP.

Signs and symptoms to look out for, and screening awareness

Monitoring is important to identify signs that could suggest potential cancer. These include:

• Bleeding between periods
• Bleeding during or after sex
• Bleeding at any time after menopause
• Unusual change in vaginal discharge
• New pain in the lower back, between the hip bones or lower stomach
• Rarer symptoms include leg swelling due to fluid accumulation in lymph nodes and painful urination or bowel movements, as well as loss of bowel and bladder control.

These are symptoms that should be investigated, as they may be indicative of existing cervical cancer. It is therefore important not to wait for the next screening test if you experience any symptoms, but to seek medical advice as soon as possible.

Pharmora’s involvement in cervical cancer research

Pharmora is a service provider, supporting organizations that conduct clinical trials to review their data and finalise the reports and documents needed to complete their studies. We offer an assured service, providing a team of scientists and medics that support each other to provide the highest quality service.

We have previously been asked to help one of our clients finalise the safety narratives for a Phase III cervical cancer clinical trial. These narratives tell the story of the patient journey through the study, describing medical conditions, investigations and medications of relevance to any adverse events they had experienced, and are a mandatory part of the final study report to be submitted to the regulatory agencies. Our team worked seamlessly to align with the client’s requirements, including very tight timelines, and completed the review of over 175 narratives to high quality with a very quick turn-around. It was a rare opportunity for the team to collaborate on a study involving cervical cancer, as there is less research in this field than other types of cancer. Factors including age, stage of reproductive life (e.g. menstruation vs menopause), race, weight, previous pregnancies and prior treatments including surgery, all need to be considered when designing studies in cervical cancer, making this a challenging therapy area.

Unfortunately, despite the fantastic work of the clinical research team, the results of the study were not positive and the product was not found to be a new treatment. This highlights the challenges of this therapy area, and the need for prevention through cervical screening and immunisation.

How do I go about booking a screening?

It is important that you don’t need to wait for any concerns to arise before attending a screening. These appointments are aimed at people without symptoms, to prevent cancer in the first place.

Sue Mann, NHS England’s National Clinical Director for Womens Health, said: “If you have previously missed your appointment, do not hesitate to reach out to your GP practice or sexual health clinic to schedule a new one. Taking this proactive step could potentially save your life.”

More information on NHS cervical screening and how to book an appointment is available at www.nhs.uk/conditions/cervical-screening.

References:

Cervical cancer (who.int)

Cervical Screening: Programme overview – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

NHS Cervical Screening Programme, England 2023-2024 Annual Report (www.england.nhs.uk)

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