Cervical Cancer Prevention Week

The women in my family have featured heavily on here at times, with the notable exception of my paternal Grandmother, pictured above. 

When my Nana died from cancer in 1986 she left a gaping hole in all of our lives. It was my first real experience of intense, searing, grief, and as anyone who has experienced such pain will attest to, it never leaves you. Every family gathering, every time we all meet up, she is noticeably absent. She never met my husband, nor her great-grandchildren.

If my glorious, hysterically funny, beautiful, happy Grandmother had gone for a cervical smear earlier, she may still be here. Maybe not, but we will never know, because she died when she was 60 years old, from cancer that originally started in her cervix.

I met up with The Eve Appeal again this week to discuss an upcoming project I am involved with, to be told that not only has the uptake of smear tests decreased since the introduction of the HPV vaccine, but that there is still some stigma around the vaccine itself.

It would appear that somewhere along the way, the message that there is a vaccine available that can help prevent some cervical cancers, is translating either into 'we don't need to get tested', or 'my daughter doesn't have sex, she's too young'.

This is not the case. Please, please, read the facts below, and for the love of sanity, if you have a cervix, keep up to date with your smear tests. If you are receiving reminders, make the appointment. If you have any unusual symptoms, please do not dismiss them. Make an appointment. 

If you have a teenage daughter, sign the consent to let her have the vaccine. It does not mean she is a slut, it means you are being a grown-up and acknowledging that one day, unless she turns into Julie Andrews and joins a convent, she will have sexual contact with someone else. One day. Most of us do. It's a normal human thing to do. Get rid of the stigma. 

Have the vaccine, have your smear tests. Take care of your Lady Garden people.

Being 'coy', 'shy' or just plain embarrassed, could literally be the difference between life and death. 

HPV:

• HPV is a very common virus. Up to 80% of people will be infected with a HPV infection at some time during their lives.

• There are over 100 different types of HPV.  Around 40 types of HPV affect the genital area, of which 13 of those can cause cancer (high-risk HPV).

• In women, high risk HPV can cause: cervical, anal, vulval, vaginal and some head and neck cancers.

• Girls in Scotland are routinely vaccinated against HPV from aged 11, whereas the rest of the UK routinely vaccinates girls from ages 12 – 13; up to their 18th birthday. 

• Your very first sexual experience may put you at risk of infection.

• You are still at risk of contracting HPV even if you do not have penetrative sex as the virus is transmitted through genital skin-to-skin contact.

• Infection with HPV does NOT imply either infidelity or promiscuity.

• If you get high-risk HPV you will not require treatment nor will your partner. However, if your cervical screening test detects abnormal cells and high-risk HPV you may be sent for further examination.

• For younger women who are eligible, the HPV vaccination helps reduce risk. It protects against four types of high risk HPV that cause 70% of all cervical cancers.

• The immune system can help your body to clear an HPV infection. Yet, smoking can make it harder for the body to clear HPV.

• HPV vaccine is 98% effective in preventing cervical abnormalities associated with HPV in those women who have not yet been infected with HPV.

• Despite the fact that the vaccine cannot protect women from existing HPV infections, it can prevent reinfection.

• The body can clear the HPV virus naturally, but when seen on a smear, the next smear test done is called a “test of cure” to make sure the body has cleared the HPV virus away.

• The HPV vaccines are not a substitute for cervical screening. Having the vaccine reduces the risk of developing cervical cancer; however, it does not protect against all cervical cancers. Therefore it is vital that when invited to attend cervical screening that you do so. 

Cervical screening:

• It is NOT a test for cervical cancer, it is a screening test to detect abnormalities in the cells of the cervix at an early stage, which if left untreated may develop into cervical cancer.

• Between 90 and 94% of all screening results are negative.

• Cervical screening saves 5,000 lives a year in the UK.

• Having regular cervical screening offers protection against developing cervical cancer

• A total of 4.31 million women aged 25 to 64 were invited for screening in England in 2014-15 and 3.12 million women were tested, representing a fall of 3.3% from 2013-14.

• Cervical screening can prevent around 45% of cervical cancer cases in women in their 30s, rising with age to 75% in women in their 50s and 60s, who attend regularly.

• Around a quarter (24%) of cervical cancer cases in England are detected by screening.

• In England, Northern Ireland and Wales; women aged 25–49 are invited every 3 years for a cervical smear and women aged 50–64 are invited every 5 years. Whereas in Scotland, women aged 20–60 are invited every 3 years. However this is due to change on 1st April 2016 to conform with the other countries eligibility criteria. 

For more information on The Eve Appeal, go here: www.eveappeal.org.uk

Read Karen's story: www.independent.co.uk/if-i-had-let-the-stigma-of-cervical-cancer-stop-me-seeing-a-doctor-then-i-could-be-dead-by-now

And her blog: quarterlifecancer.com

Red Lippy Project and Cervical Screening Awareness

OK listen up. A cause extremely close to my heart - and my Lady Garden.

This week - 8th to 14th June - is Cervical Screening Awareness week. 

I lost my Grandmother to cervical cancer in the 1980's and I myself have to have smear tests every 6 months due to 'abnormalities' found during a routine smear test a few years ago. It's not pleasant. No-one, no-one enjoys having a smear test. Equally, it's not an 'attractive' issue to the beauty industry. That spot has been filled by breasts for far too long - but awareness of it saves lives.

The Red Lippy Project is a charity dedicated to raising awareness of cervical screening and this week will collaborate with Top Shop to launch the Limited Edition Red Lippy Lipstick, £8, in their best selling Pillar Box Red. 

Top Shop are donating 30% of the sale of the gorgeous lipstick and makeup bag above to the Red Lippy Project and  both the charity and Top Shop are encouraging celebrities and customers alike to share pictures of their red lips across social media, along with scarlet pucker prints on mugs, cheeks, anything really.. to #makeamark for cervical cancer awareness.

• Cervical cancer is the third most common malignancy to affect women, with over half a million cases occurring worldwide each year. It is the most common cancer in women under 35 years of age.
   
• There were 2,900 new cases of cervical cancer diagnosed in 2010, that is around 8 women every day.
  
• Cervical screening is not a test for cancer. Cervical screening is unique, as it allows signs of changes to be identified at an early stage when treatment – which can be carried out on an outpatient basis – effectively preventing the vast majority of cases progressing to cervical cancer.
   
• The NHS Cervical Screening Programme was set up in 1988 by the Department of Health. The programme screens over three million women in England each year.
   
• Scientists estimate that cervical screening saves around 5000 lives each year in the UK.
  
• Cervical screening can prevent at least:
  • 75% of cervical cancers in women in their 50s and 60s,
    60% of cervical cancers in women in their 40s
    45% of cervical cancers in women in their 30s.

Since the introduction of cervical screening in the 1980's, rates of cervical cancer have almost halved. 

For more information on cervical cancer, screening and the Red Lippy Project go to RedLippyProject.com

Other ways to get involved:

• Post your Red Lippy Project selfie on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter along with the hashtags #redlippyproject #makeamark 
   
• Follow them on Instagram and Twitter, find us at @redlippyproject 
   
• Donate Funds: Text RLIP14 £2 to 70070 or make an online donation.
   
• Visit Topshop in-store or online to purchase their Red Lippy Project lipstick and make up bag, and 30% of the profit will be donated to Red Lippy Project. 
   
• Go to Facebook and like/share them
   
• Inspire your friends to get involved in the crusade by tagging them in selfies or by sending them a virtual kiss

#makeamark #redlippyproject

Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month - MARCH

Whilst I obviously applaud the way that the beauty industry got behind breast cancer and the huge event that is Breast Cancer Awareness month in October, I do rather feel that it has also had the disadvantage of completely overshadowing other cancers. For example, twice as many women die annually from lung cancer than breast cancer.

March is Ovarian Cancer Awareness month. How I wish for a sea of teal blue products on sale in beauty halls up and down the country - sadly I think that is a long way off - gynecological cancers are not 'pretty' causes. Does the fact that we are de-sensitised to breasts have anything to do with it? I don't know - all I know is that there are other cancers out there. And we need to be aware of the facts. And the symptoms:

• Ovarian cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer death in women and accounts for more UK deaths than all of the other gynaecological cancers put together. 
• Over 6,500 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer every year in the UK and 4,400 will die.

The good news is that if diagnosed at an early stage, the outcome is good. However, because some of the symptoms of ovarian cancer are similar to those seen in more common conditions, it can be difficult to diagnose. Most women are not diagnosed until the disease has spread, which is why it is important that women know about the symptoms, so that they can seek advice as early as possible.

The key early signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer are:

• persistent pelvic and abdominal pain
• increased abdominal size/persistent bloating - not bloating that comes and goes
• difficulty eating and feeling full quickly
• urinary symptoms - needing to pass water more often than usual

It is most likely that these symptoms are not ovarian cancer but may be present in some women with the disease.

Ovacome has teamed with HealthUnlocked and Macmillan Cancer Support to create a unique way of raising awareness of the early signs of ovarian cancer. It's worth a few minutes of your time.

For further info and to give support try these:

Ovarian Cancer Action
Ovacome
The Eve Appeal
Macmillan

Tending to the Lady Garden

I would never normally mix business and blogging - but in honour of the Official roll-out of 'all for eve' this week and in place of the usual 'beauty' posts - I wanted to share some information made available to us through both The Eve Appeal and also by Dr Tim Mould - Oncologist Gynaecologist at UCLH here in London.                                                                                                             
I feel very privileged  to be a part of something so unique from its inception and feel especially passionate about this cause as I lost my grandmother to gynaecological cancer  when she was far too young.

'all for eve' is a stand alone beauty and lifestyle brand whose sole purpose is to generate much needed funds and awareness for gynaecological cancers.  Products go on sale this weekend across most big retail channels.

All net profits generated by the sale of these products go to The Eve Appeal - which in turn funds research into gynaecological cancers at UCLH in London.

Please read, feel free to copy, pass on and do what you can to create more awareness of this horrifying disease.

Firstly a few shocking statistics:

•    50 women a day are diagnosed with a gynaecological cancer in the UK

•    20 women a day die of a gynaecological cancer in the UK

•    1,000,000 a year are diagnosed with a gynaecological cancer worldwide

•    Of these over 720,000 will die

•    9/10 women do not know how many gynaecological cancers there are

•    3/4 of women cannot name any symptoms of ovarian cancer

•    Ovarian cancer takes the lives of 72% of sufferers every year – a figure that has barely changed since 1972

•    85% of sufferers of ovarian cancer present at Stage 3 (out of 4) – at which point the survival rate is 15%

•    85% of sufferers of breast cancer survive (based on a 5 year survival rate)

The Facts:

There are 5 types of gynaecological cancer:

Ovarian, endometrial/uterine (womb), vulval, cervical, vaginal

•    Ovarian cancer is the most common form - although cancer of the womb has the highest rate of increases which are believed to be related to weight increase post-menopause.
•    Average age for ovarian cancer is 59 – average age of cervical cancer is 35
•    90% of cases are sporadic
•    10% are inherited genes

Risks
Your risk of sporadic cancer is greatly reduced if you:
•    Have 3 or more children
•    Have been taking the combined pill for more than 10 years as the pill suppresses ovulation – thereby ostensibly giving the ovaries ‘a rest’
•    Have had tubal sterilisation
•    A hysterectomy
•    The marina coil will ‘probably’ reduce your risk of womb cancer

Increased risks
•    If you carry the BRCA gene you have an increased risk of both breast and ovarian cancers – as high as 80% for breast and 40% for ovarian
•    IVF over-stimulates the ovaries and can cause tiny little cysts which are then more likely to turn cancerous
•    Familial risk – only increases by 5% if you have a primary (mother, sister) relative with the disease

Symptoms
The other problem is that the symptoms of ovarian cancer can be diagnosed for numerous other illnesses – especially IBS.
•    Abdominal distension
•    Bloating
•    Lower back pain
•    Bowel obstruction
•    Urinary symptoms
•    Breathlessness
An undetected cancer on the ovary can and will spread to every other internal organ due to their proximity in the body cavity

Diagnosis
The main problem with ovarian cancer is that most women present at Stage 3 or 4.
85% of all sufferers are at this stage when diagnosed.
If caught at Stage 1 the survival rate is 90% - this lowers to 15% at Stages 3 and 4.
Ultrasound is the best way for diagnosis. It will show up anything that should not be there – and in the doctor’s words – ‘any cyst showing up after menopause should NOT be there’.
There is also a CA125 blood test which registers when protein levels go up in the blood – a sign of ovarian cancer – the problem with this is that other viruses can cause the levels to rise and proteins will not rise with ALL cancers.
If you are in the very high risk group you should have the blood test every 4 months.
If you are post-menopausal you should have a scan and blood test every year.
Ideally, everyone else should alternate blood test/scan every other year.

Treatment
Stage 1 – curable with surgery
Stage 2 – curable with surgery and (sometimes) chemotherapy
Stage 3 and 4 – 15% survival rate with surgery and chemotherapy
Stages 3 and 4, once cured, can be treated as a ‘chronic illness’ similar to diabetes because it can come back.

Thanks to the support of The Eve Appeal, UCLH is currently undertaking the largest medical trial on ovarian cancer in history. It finishes in 2011 and the results will be announced in 2015.
It is based on 3 separate groups of women and the aim is to conclusively prove that testing/screening lowers incidences of ovarian cancer and thus force the government to introduce scanning and testing across the country for women in all risk groups.

Please take care of your Lady Garden Ladies.