Cervical Cancer Prevention Week – 17 to 23rd January 2022

Cancer Research UK estimates that cervical cancer is the 14th most common cancer in the UK accounting for 2% of all new cancer cases in females in 2017. Between 2015 and 2017, over 3,000 new cases of cervical cancer were reported, and peak rates of cervical cancer are in individuals aged between 30-34 years of age.

Like all cancers, early detection is key to reducing its impact.

What are the symptoms of cervical cancer?

Precancer, also known as a precancerous lesion, is a collection of cells from the body's organs that may look and appear to be the same as cancer cells, but it’s not cancer yet. They may not cause any symptoms or the symptoms may not be obvious.

In some cases, these precancerous cells, if left alone, may go on to become “invasive” cancer cells. As the disease develops it is important to be aware of the most common symptoms, which include:

• unusual vaginal bleeding, including after menopause, after sex, or between regular periods
• changes to vaginal discharge
• pain or discomfort during sex
• unexplained pain in the lower back or between hip bones (pelvis).

It is imperative to speak to a GP if experiencing any of the above symptoms, but remember that these symptoms can happen for reasons other than cervical cancer too. The key is to get checked out as soon as possible.

What if you are an ECIS client with Private Medical Insurance!

Whether your Private Medical Insurance is paid for by your employer, or you have opted to add a family member to your scheme (this option is available to all members of the scheme, if you think you or an employee could benefit from this please contact ECIS for more information), you will have support available to you via your benefits scheme.

• Direct access service through Bupa
• Babylon Digital GP
• Full cover for cancer treatment

Regardless of if you have private medical insurance, as soon as you start to see the symptoms of cervical cancer is it imperative to contact a GP straight away, so they can provide the proper reassurance and support.

For more information on cover for cancer treatment, visit our website www.ecins.co.uk. We’ll also be posting resources you may find helpful on our Twitter account @ecis_ltd