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DIY test for cervical cancer
By Kasie Davies on Monday 15 March 2010
A new DIY smear test that could reduce the number of women visiting their GPs for a screening has gone on sale on the internet today.
The one-hour test costs £115 and works by inserting a special tampon. The results are then posted to a lab for analysis. Results are then uploaded on to a secure online patient record, which the woman creates when she registers for the service, on the DrThom website.
Medical experts hope the home device will encourage more women to get tested, particularly those who feel embarrassed about seeing a doctor or are too busy to make an appointment.
The test can also be used by women under the age of 25, who are not eligible for free NHS screening but want to check for early signs of cancer.
Consultant gynaecologist Nick Wales, who helped develop the test, says: ‘It is an invaluable addition to the detection of pre-cancerous changes of the cervix. I believe within 10 years all cervical screening will be done this way.'
But not all cancer experts are in favour. Many believe this new test will lead to women under 30 being told they have the sexually transmitted infection HPV (human papillomavirus), which causes most cases of cervical cancer, when it would clear up on its own.
Clinical consultant Anne Szarewski says: ‘In young people, everyone is going to test positive. The rate of HPV is high but it's transient...it comes and goes.'
The concern is that women under 25 whose results suggest something is wrong with be left feeling very anxious.
‘Women will be paranoid and they will not be eligible for an NHS colonoscopy, so they are going to be paying a few hundred pounds more for a colonoscopy privately, which is unnecessary,' says Dr Szarewski
Every year, over 2,800 UK women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and almost 1,000 die form it every year. However, a study published in the British medial Journal says home smear testing could double the number of women diagnosed with cervical cancer.
For more information on cervical cancer, visit www.cancerresearchuk.org
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Monday 15 March 2010
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How about people just stop having sex? Until they're married that is. Seriously - then people wouldn't need to stress and spend their money (or the NHS's) on protection against pregnancy and STDs, or resolving them. That money should be saving lives. Relationships and families would be so much happier also.
Comment by Grace Dalton on March 15 13:34
I partially agree with Grace. I think the root of the problem is people sleeping around. Just stop it! Get some friggin' dignity!
Comment by Samantha on March 15 14:29
don't think it's quite as simple as that, especially when cervical cancer is not always connected to HPV- people should be more careful and protect themselves but unfortunately that is part of our modern culture now.
Comment by Sophie Hall on March 15 14:30
No sex before marriage? Jeez Grace what century do you live in?! How about using condoms instead?!
Comment by HCK on March 15 14:54
Soooooo unrealistic, Grace Dalton. I hope you're not preaching this kind of stuff to Africa rather than encouraging condom use.
Comment by Caroline Baker on March 15 15:03
Well you raise an interesting point, however we need to deal with the senario as it actually is now and not as some of us may wish it was in an ideal world. The fact is people are having sex before marriage and in my opinion I don't think these home tests are a good idea. I think the testing age should be lowered to 21 & people should be encouraged more openly to get tested in general & keep themselves safe. It's not doing any good to make people feel they will be judged.
Comment by Laura on March 15 15:51
Trouble is ..if it is selftested ..I think a lot of women would still be wondering if they have done it properly, not believing the result unless a proper medic has done it...
Also not doing it properly in the first place.
There would always be that worry.
Comment by anon on March 15 16:13
Oh riiiight, because all married couples are faithful, and STDs and unwanted pregnancies are - gasp! - IMPOSSIBLE within a marriage. No good married women get cervical cancer!
I sincerely hope the previous comment was sarcastic/a joke, because otherwise its levels of ignorance and narrowmindedness are astounding and disturbing.
Comment by CB on March 15 18:10
Grace are you for real? Really!
Comment by Vic on March 15 20:57
These diseases are always going to be around now...but no pre marital sex laws are going to be ahappening again in this century...its all fast forward now...and these diseases strike .married or not..Its a sad fact of our times and for some years long past
Comment by anon on March 16 19:56
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