One MILLION miss smear tests in Covid lockdown – the 5 early signs of cervical cancer you need to know

ONE million women have missed their smear tests due to the coronavirus lockdown, experts have estimated.

Campaigners warn that the long-term impact of cancelled or postponed screening could result in a rise in cervical cancer cases.

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Only a "handful" of screening appointments have been available in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, according to charity .

And services in England are decided at a local level, resulting in a "postcode lottery" for many patients.

Kate Sanger, from the charity, says that while this is "far from ideal", it's necessary to protect women and NHS staff from coronavirus.

However, she warns that that could have a knock-on effect further down the line.

She told : “We are anticipating there to be an increase in people with cell changes and potentially some additional cancers as a result of the pausing."

Around five million women a year are invited for cervical screening in the UK.

But Kate says that due to the "disjointed approach" across England during lockdown, around one million women have been affected.

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She also raised concerns that even after cervical cancer screenings are allowed to resume, the system "won't be up and running quickly".

The NHS will be dealing with a backlog of "all manner of health conditions" once lockdown is lifted and social distancing may also limit the number of patients that can be seen in a day.

Karen Hobbs, from the Eve Appeal, says that women should be reassured that HPV - the virus that causes abnormal cells in most cases - is slow-growing.

She told HuffPost UK: “For the most part, it’s medically safe to postpone an appointment a little bit. Routine screening is usually a check of a healthy cervix."

For the most part, it’s medically safe to postpone an appointment a little bit. Routine screening is usually a check of a healthy cervix

Karen HobbsEve Appeal

But lockdown delays will make the risk higher for women who are already overdue their screening, she warned.

There are also fears that fewer women will want to take part in the scheme as they may be worried about undergoing "a very intimate test" following months of keeping their distance from people.

Women may also have difficulty in getting to an appointment, have childcare issues or have had past trauma that makes the procedure more daunting.

But she added: “It would be very rare and unlikely [to develop cancer during lockdown], but of course it’s a risk and I would be lying if I said it wasn’t a risk."

Catch it early

Cervical cancer is one of the more deadly forms of the disease if it's left untreated.

Catch it at the earliest stage - stage 1 - and you have the highest chance of surviving it. But get diagnosed at stage 4, and you've only got a 5 per cent chance of surviving five years or longer.

That's why it's absolutely crucial that you know what changes to look out for and get them tested ASAP.

According to Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust, around 3,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer every year in the UK.

It's the most common form of the disease in women aged 35 and under.

Over the past decade - despite the deaths of celebs like Jade Goody - the number of women attending screenings has dropped to the lowest level since records began in 1995, with nearly a third of women in the UK risking their lives by skipping their smear test.

That’s why last year Fabulous partnered with cervical cancer charity Jo’s Trust to launch #CheersForSmears, a campaign aiming to ensure women across the UK attend their screenings, no matter what.

With around 3,200 women in the UK now being diagnosed with the disease every year – a number that is set to rise by around 40 per cent within 20 years – and one in three dying from it, it’s clear we’re facing a cervical cancer time bomb.

So, what early signs do you need to look out for?

Not all women diagnosed with cervical cancer have symptoms, which is why it’s really important to attend cervical screening (smear tests) when invited.

"But, whatever your age, it’s equally important to be aware of cervical cancer symptoms," Imogen Pinnell, health information manager at Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust told The Sun.

Early signs can include:

1. Abnormal bleeding (during or after sex, between periods and also post-menopause)  

The most common and earliest sign of cervical cancer tends to be irregular bleeding.

It happens when the cancer cells grow on the tissue below the cervix.

It's an especially alarming sign in postmenopausal women who no longer have periods. There's no age limit to developing cervical cancer.

2. Unusual vaginal discharge

Everyone's discharge is different, so it's a case of knowing what is normal for you.

If you find that the colour, smell and consistency has changed, then that's something you really need to have checked out.

When cancer lacks oxygen, it can cause an infection which leads to strange smelling discharge.

3. Discomfort or pain during sex

Pain during sex can be a sign of a number of different issues, but one is cervical cancer.

Because the disease often comes with no symptoms, pain during intercourse is one of the key indicators. It can be a sign that the cancer is spreading to surrounding tissues.

4. Lower back pain

It could be down to you straining something in the gym, or it could be a warning sign that something's wrong with your reproductive organs.

Persistent pain - just one off twinges - in the lower back, pelvis or appendix can be a symptom of cervical cancer.

5. Unintended weight loss

While effortless weight loss might sound like the answer to many of our prayers, it's never a good sign if it happens seemingly without cause.

A loss of appetite and unexplained weight loss tend to be signs that the body isn't working properly - it's trying to conserve energy. If you notice that you're not eating as you normally do, go to your GP.

As the disease progresses, it can also result in:

• increased need to pee
• blood in pee
• bleeding from the bottom
• diarrhoea
• incontinence
• lower limb swelling

What to do if you do experience any of these symptoms

If you experience any of these (do not wait for all of them to appear, just one is enough!), then make an appointment to talk to your GP immediately.

It doesn't matter if you've had a recent smear test or not - or if you're under 25 and haven't been offered one yet. Although it's rare, cervical cancer can strike earlier.

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"Remember, cervical cancer is rare and all of these symptoms are often caused by something other than cancer," Imogen says.

"But, if you have any symptoms, it is important to get checked by your GP straight away."

Often, women don't have any symptoms early on and that's why it's so absolutely crucial that you go for a regular smear.