Cervical Cancer Did you know that cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women under the age of 35? In the UK each year around 2,800 women are told they have cervical cancer. On average 21 women die of cervical cancer each week in the UK, that’s about 1,100 women each year. With early detection or immunisation against the virus that causes cervical cancer most of these lives would be saved. 98% of cervical cancers are caused by high risk strains of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). At WellCare we have been testing for the high risk strains of HPV that cause cervical cancer and using the ThinPrep test (liquid based cytology) to take clearer and more accurate cervical smears since 1998. Now alongside testing for HPV and taking more accurate smears there is a vaccination to protect against the two HPV strains that can lead to over 70% of all cervical cancers. So you and your daughter can now Be tested for the strains of HPV before they show on a cervical smear Have a cervical smear that is more accurate and easy to read Be reassured that if you have had an abnormal smear but do not have HPV present then you are unlikely to develop cervical cancer Be immunised against the strains of HPV that can lead to cervical cancer