2009 Press Releases
UCC’s Student Health Centre launches initiatives to prevent the development of Cervical Cancer in female students
09.02.2009
Two initiatives aimed at reducing the incidence of cervical cancer in students are being launched today (February 9th 2009) at the Student Health Centre, UCC.
09.02.2009
Two initiatives aimed at reducing the incidence of cervical cancer in students are being launched today (February 9th 2009) at the Student Health Centre, UCC.
This coincides with the National Launch of CervicalCheck, the Irish Cervical Screening Programme. From January 2009, registered female students of UCC aged 25 and over can now opt to have their cervical smear taken free of charge at the Student Health Centre.
In an accompanying initiative targeting students 26 years and under, the Student Health Department is encouraging female students to undergo a course of vaccinations against the Human Papilloma Virus, the virus known to cause Cervical cancer. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the name for a group of viruses that cause skin warts, genital warts and some cancers.
The CervicalCheck programme provides free cervical smears to women between the ages of 25 and 60, with the aim of the early detection of pre-cancerous lesion, so allowing prompt treatment to prevent progression of these lesions to cervical cancer. The Student Health Department has recently been accepted as an approved provider of the Cervical Screening Programme allowing students 25 years and over to have their cervical smear taken free of charge at the centre.
The vast majority of cases of cervical cancer are caused by persistent oncogenic (cancer-causing) HPV virus infection. There are now two vaccines available in Ireland that can prevent infection with up to four types of HPV viruses responsible for 70% of the cases of cervical cancer. The Student Health Department is now offering the course of vaccinations to prevent cervical cancer and genital warts. The vaccination course consists of three separate doses administered over a period of six months.
On average, every year in Ireland, 180 women are newly diagnosed with cervical cancer and there are over 70 deaths from cervical cancer. Screening for cervical cancer is possible due to the slow progression of precancerous lesions to cervical cancer. This provides a window of ten years or more to detect and treat these precancerous lesions, thus preventing the progression to invasive cancer. It is estimated that provision of regular cervical screening to women over 25 will lead to an 80% reduction in mortality.
As per new National and International recommendations, cervical smears will no longer be undertaken in women under 25 years of age, unless recommended as part of follow up from a previous abnormal smear undertaken prior to the commencement of the new National Programme.
Students wishing to have a smear or vaccination should contact the Student Health Centre on 021 4902311 to request an appointment.
Picture shows: Pat Duffy, SRN, Adriana Dineen, Reception and Dr Michael Byrne, Student Health Service, UCC.
975MMcS
In an accompanying initiative targeting students 26 years and under, the Student Health Department is encouraging female students to undergo a course of vaccinations against the Human Papilloma Virus, the virus known to cause Cervical cancer. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the name for a group of viruses that cause skin warts, genital warts and some cancers.
The CervicalCheck programme provides free cervical smears to women between the ages of 25 and 60, with the aim of the early detection of pre-cancerous lesion, so allowing prompt treatment to prevent progression of these lesions to cervical cancer. The Student Health Department has recently been accepted as an approved provider of the Cervical Screening Programme allowing students 25 years and over to have their cervical smear taken free of charge at the centre.
The vast majority of cases of cervical cancer are caused by persistent oncogenic (cancer-causing) HPV virus infection. There are now two vaccines available in Ireland that can prevent infection with up to four types of HPV viruses responsible for 70% of the cases of cervical cancer. The Student Health Department is now offering the course of vaccinations to prevent cervical cancer and genital warts. The vaccination course consists of three separate doses administered over a period of six months.
On average, every year in Ireland, 180 women are newly diagnosed with cervical cancer and there are over 70 deaths from cervical cancer. Screening for cervical cancer is possible due to the slow progression of precancerous lesions to cervical cancer. This provides a window of ten years or more to detect and treat these precancerous lesions, thus preventing the progression to invasive cancer. It is estimated that provision of regular cervical screening to women over 25 will lead to an 80% reduction in mortality.
As per new National and International recommendations, cervical smears will no longer be undertaken in women under 25 years of age, unless recommended as part of follow up from a previous abnormal smear undertaken prior to the commencement of the new National Programme.
Students wishing to have a smear or vaccination should contact the Student Health Centre on 021 4902311 to request an appointment.
Picture shows: Pat Duffy, SRN, Adriana Dineen, Reception and Dr Michael Byrne, Student Health Service, UCC.
975MMcS