Hopes raised of cervical cancer eradication

The success of the HPV vaccination offers hope of one day eradicating cervical cancer, say scientists who carried out a major review of evidence.

The success of the HPV vaccination offers hope of one day eradicating cervical cancer, say scientists who carried out a major review of evidence.

Vaccination against the human papilloma virus, which causes most cervical cancers, began over a decade ago.

A Lancet review of 65 studies covering 60 million people showed a fall in HPV cases and in pre-cancerous growths.

Over decades, this should translate into a significant fall, and possible eradication, of the cancer they said.

Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust said the data should boost faith in the jab.

What is the human papilloma virus (HPV)?

• HPV is the name for a common group of viruses; there are more than 100 types of HPV
• Many women will be infected with HPV over the course of their lifetime, with no ill effect
• Most cervical cancers are caused by infection from a high-risk HPV
• Others cause conditions including genital warts and cancers of the head and neck
• The vaccine, given to girls aged 12 and 13 since 2008, protects against four types of HPV - 16 and 18, which are linked to more than 70% of cervical cancers - and six and 11, which cause about 90% of genital warts

By BBC News Health