Did you know the majority of cervical cancer is due to a virus and nearly all cases are preventable?

Cervical cancer, once the 4th most common cancer Worldwide, is now the 8th and the 19th most common in the U.K. Figures should be decreasing due to the increasingly sophisticated smear programme and the advent of the HPV vaccination, in fact 99.8% of cervical cancer cases are preventable. But here's the thing, we need to talk about it, increase awareness, go for our smear tests, no matter what, and know what the worrying signs are.

Dr Penny Ward speaks to Sophie about her diagnosis as a new mum and how she is trying to increase awareness of cervical cancer.  She also speaks with gynaecologist Dr Alison Torrens about HPV, the part this plays in cervical cancer and the vaccination programme.

Personal experience, a little cell biology and even some medical history in this episode.

References:

Follow Sophie and her journey on Instagram, links to her article in the Huffington Post in her biography @sevvy_d

Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust, a wealth of information covering all aspects of cervical cancer https://jostrust.org.uk/

For more information from the NHS on cervical cancer and the screening programme https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cervical-cancer/

Thank you to Josh Woodward for the song I'll Be Right Behind You Josephine https://joshwoodward.com/