A screening test conducted to screen cervical cancer that is to be used at home, will be offered to some of the women living in Scotland, BBC has learned.Scottish government is in the process of formulating their plans but the hope is that the home test will at least be used in those deprived areas that have low screening rates.The action is geared toward getting more women screened to take the test on human papillomavirus (HPV) that causes the majority of cervical cancer.The NHS England has already implemented a scheme on home testing in individuals who have been delayed in attending to cervical screening.
The most frequent type of cancer affecting women between 25 to 35 years of age in Scotland is cervical cancer with an average of six women diagnosed with the disease per week.HPV is a very widespread type of virus because more than 99 percent of all cervical cancers are caused by it.Scottish screening rates are not being published because of data quality issues, but as of 2021/22 68.7 percent of all eligible women were current with respect to their screening attendance.In the most deprived regions there was a screening of 62.4 percent of all eligible women, and there was a similar screening of 73.1 percent of women in the least deprived parts of the country.
Self inquiry of cervical cancer
In a recent trial, it revealed that the proportion of women screened would be enhanced to 77% during the span of three years through the rollout of home test kits in England.The project in England is such that it sends out kits in unobtrusive packaging and also the postage envelope is pre-paid.
The test examines only the presence of HPV, but in case it is identified then women will be summoned to visit the doctor who will examine changes in the cells that might sound as an alarm in the case of cancer.Jenni Minto, the Public Health Minister in Scotland said: l welcome the advice of the UK National Screening Committee, an independent expert body that advises the four nations of the UK and which acknowledges that self-sampling may enhance access and uptake of cervical screening.
To achieve a possible first roll-out in Scotland, the screening programme will be labour intensive to compete with time. Plans still need to be developed but it is our hope that eventually we shall be able to start by doing it to women in some of our most deprived regions.
What is the prevalence of HPV?
HPV is highly prevalent - the NHS says most people will contract some form of HPV, at some point in their lives.Majority of those who acquire it will not be aware of it and they do not develop the issue.Some of them could however cause cancer or genital warts.In 2020, Scotland changed their smear test to one which tests HPV in a bid to be able to detect individuals at risk of getting cervical cancer.It implied that women do not need to undergo cervical screening after every three years but every five.