Facts and Figures

Cervical Cancer

* In the UK cervical cancer is the 2nd most common cancer in women under 35 after breast cancer


* Almost 1,000 women die of cervical cancer each year


* Around 7 to 10 of those are under 25


* 7% of cervical cancer deaths each year are in women under 35


* Around 2,800 women a year are diagnosed with cervical cancer


* And around 60 girls under 25 are diagnosed each year

Cervical Screenings

* Up to 4,500 lives are saved every year from cervical screenings


* 4 million women are invited for a screening each year


* 1 in 5 women never go their screenings


* 1 in 20 cervical screenings will show changes in cells, but most of these will not lead to cancer


* Early detection and treatment can prevent up to 75% of cervical cancers from developing


* Not going to screenings is the biggest risk factor for getting cervical cancer


* Cervical cancer rates have halved since the 1980s due to the screening programme

Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

* 99.7% of cervical cancer cases are caused by persistent infection of HPV, transmitted through sex.


* Up to 80% of people will be infected with HPV in their lifetime (through skin to skin contact in the genital area), but for most women this will never lead to cervical cancer.


* The HPV vaccine can prevent up to 70% of cervical cancers