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| Cervical screening: DIY alternative to smear test 'promising' | Cervical screening: DIY alternative to smear test 'promising' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A DIY home urine or swab test could potentially help more women discover whether they are at risk of cervical cancer, researchers say. | A DIY home urine or swab test could potentially help more women discover whether they are at risk of cervical cancer, researchers say. |
| The new method could be used as an alternative to the smear test and would not require a visit to the doctor. | The new method could be used as an alternative to the smear test and would not require a visit to the doctor. |
| Scientists at Queen Mary University of London asked 600 women to provide self-collected samples for screening. | Scientists at Queen Mary University of London asked 600 women to provide self-collected samples for screening. |
| Although larger trials are needed, the work has been called "promising" and a potential "game-changer" by charities. | Although larger trials are needed, the work has been called "promising" and a potential "game-changer" by charities. |
| The findings, being presented at the NCRI cancer conference in Glasgow, suggest the method is feasible and popular. | |
| However, larger trials may still be needed before the NHS could decide whether to offer it to patients, say experts. | However, larger trials may still be needed before the NHS could decide whether to offer it to patients, say experts. |
| Even then, it would only be one option for women - as the researchers believe smear tests would continue in their current form. | Even then, it would only be one option for women - as the researchers believe smear tests would continue in their current form. |
| But the researchers say that in the future, some women could order the test kits online, use them at home and then send their sample by post to be analysed. | But the researchers say that in the future, some women could order the test kits online, use them at home and then send their sample by post to be analysed. |
| The 25% who do not attend | The 25% who do not attend |
| Screening aims to pick up early warning signs of cancer - known as pre-cancers - that can be treated to prevent the disease. | Screening aims to pick up early warning signs of cancer - known as pre-cancers - that can be treated to prevent the disease. |
| All women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 64 in the UK are invited for NHS cervical screening, but the number of women attending cervical screening in the UK has been falling. | All women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 64 in the UK are invited for NHS cervical screening, but the number of women attending cervical screening in the UK has been falling. |
| Around one in four UK women do not attend when invited, figures suggest. | Around one in four UK women do not attend when invited, figures suggest. |
| Experts have put the low uptake rates down to embarrassment, a lack of awareness or just putting it off. | Experts have put the low uptake rates down to embarrassment, a lack of awareness or just putting it off. |
| Dr Belinda Nedjai and colleagues have developed an alternative screening method that does not rely on smear tests. | Dr Belinda Nedjai and colleagues have developed an alternative screening method that does not rely on smear tests. |
| The S5 test measures chemical changes that are detectable in urine or self-collected vaginal fluid samples to gauge a woman's cancer risk. | The S5 test measures chemical changes that are detectable in urine or self-collected vaginal fluid samples to gauge a woman's cancer risk. |
| A high score suggests there is an increased risk of a pre-cancer lesion being present. | A high score suggests there is an increased risk of a pre-cancer lesion being present. |
| In the study, the S5 test was good at distinguishing which women had pre-cancerous growths diagnosed following conventional screening. | In the study, the S5 test was good at distinguishing which women had pre-cancerous growths diagnosed following conventional screening. |
| 'Potential to revolutionise' | 'Potential to revolutionise' |
| Dr Nedjai said the self-sampling was "pretty accurate", but was not as quite as effective as the UK's current smear testing programme. | |
| "It will be soon. With improvement we'll get there," she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. | |
| Dr Nedjaj said the S5 test needed to be tried on more than 10,000 women before it could be offered on the NHS. | |
| She predicted the at-home tests could be available via the health service in five years. | |
| Researchers say the test could also be used alongside conventional cervical screening to help improve detection and spare some women from unnecessary investigations. | |
| The NHS is currently moving to primary human papillomavirus (HPV) screening of smears - testing for the presence of this virus in samples before looking for abnormal cell changes. Almost all cases of cervical cancer are linked to HPV. | The NHS is currently moving to primary human papillomavirus (HPV) screening of smears - testing for the presence of this virus in samples before looking for abnormal cell changes. Almost all cases of cervical cancer are linked to HPV. |
| Dr Manuel Rodriguez-Justo, from University College London, said: "This is exciting research that shows it's possible to detect cervical pre-cancer that is at high risk of developing into invasive cancer in urine and vaginal samples collected by women in the comfort and privacy of their own homes. | Dr Manuel Rodriguez-Justo, from University College London, said: "This is exciting research that shows it's possible to detect cervical pre-cancer that is at high risk of developing into invasive cancer in urine and vaginal samples collected by women in the comfort and privacy of their own homes. |
| "This has the potential to revolutionise the way a positive HPV test is followed up, as well as making it easier for women in countries with no cervical cancer screening programme to be tested." | "This has the potential to revolutionise the way a positive HPV test is followed up, as well as making it easier for women in countries with no cervical cancer screening programme to be tested." |
| Sophia Lowes, Cancer Research UK's health information manager, said: "The results look promising for detecting women with advanced cell changes. But we need to know if this test picks up all changes and if it's as successful when testing a wider group of people." | Sophia Lowes, Cancer Research UK's health information manager, said: "The results look promising for detecting women with advanced cell changes. But we need to know if this test picks up all changes and if it's as successful when testing a wider group of people." |
| Robert Music, chief executive of Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust, said although more research was needed, DIY checks could be a "game-changer". | Robert Music, chief executive of Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust, said although more research was needed, DIY checks could be a "game-changer". |
| "For women who find the current methods of cervical screening difficult, including those with a physical disability or who have experienced trauma, it could mean they can access screening in a far more acceptable and accessible way." | "For women who find the current methods of cervical screening difficult, including those with a physical disability or who have experienced trauma, it could mean they can access screening in a far more acceptable and accessible way." |
| "It could mean those requiring treatment are identified faster and reduce the number of women having to go for potentially unnecessary investigations at colposcopy." | "It could mean those requiring treatment are identified faster and reduce the number of women having to go for potentially unnecessary investigations at colposcopy." |