medicine
No women in their early 20s died of cervical cancer in England, 2020-2024
A single jab has driven cervical cancer deaths before 30 to 'effectively zero' — a first that a tired reader would text their partner about.
A vaccine ‘almost eliminated’ a type of cancer, the green economy surged, and India halved its smoking rate, plus more good news
A vaccine ‘almost eliminated’ a type of cancer, the green economy surged, and India halved its smoking rate, plus more good news
A future where almost nobody gets cervical cancer is “firmly in sight,” doctors said this week, as a study showed that f or the first time no women in their early-20s died from cervical cancer in England between 2020 and 2024 . The “incredible milestone” follows the rollout of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which scientists say has reduced the risk of cervical cancer deaths before the age of 30 to “effectively zero”. HPV infects cells inside the body. Most people catch it at some point and while the infection usually clears, some types can cause cancer – a link that was established 25 years ago, leading to the development of a vaccine against the disease. The UK was one of the first nations to roll out a HPV vaccine in 2008. The latest study offers the strongest evidence yet that it is saving lives, estimating that around 200 cervical cancer deaths have been prevented so far in England alone – a figure that lead researcher Peter Sasieni, professor of cancer epidemiology at Queen Mary University London, believes is the tip of the iceberg. “As vaccinated generations grow older, we’ll see many more lives saved from cervical cancer,” he said. “It is incredible to think that a single jab can almost eliminate a particular type of cancer. This new research shows just how vital it is to keep HPV vaccination levels high so more people are protected.” Image: Becca Tapert
A future where almost nobody gets cervical cancer is “firmly in sight,” doctors said this week, as a study showed that f or the first time no women in their early-20s died from cervical cancer in England between 2020 and 2024 .
The “incredible milestone” follows the rollout of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which scientists say has reduced the risk of cervical cancer deaths before the age of 30 to “effectively zero”.
HPV infects cells inside the body. Most people catch it at some point and while the infection usually clears, some types can cause cancer – a link that was established 25 years ago, leading to the development of a vaccine against the disease.
The UK was one of the first nations to roll out a HPV vaccine in 2008. The latest study offers the strongest evidence yet that it is saving lives, estimating that around 200 cervical cancer deaths have been prevented so far in England alone – a figure that lead researcher Peter Sasieni, professor of cancer epidemiology at Queen Mary University London, believes is the tip of the iceberg.
“As vaccinated generations grow older, we’ll see many more lives saved from cervical cancer,” he said. “It is incredible to think that a single jab can almost eliminate a particular type of cancer. This new research shows just how vital it is to keep HPV vaccination levels high so more people are protected.”
Rates of smoking and tobacco use have halved in India this century, a positive trend that will have “huge implications” for a country where nearly one million people die from smoking each year. The trend was highlighted by analysis from Our World in Data, which said smoking rates had fallen significantly for both sexes. Some countries, it added, have seen rates fall for men while rising for women. India’s progress is exceptional but part of a wider trend. According to the World Health Organization, there’s been a 27% fall in the number of people smoking since 2010. Image: Abhas Mishra
Rates of smoking and tobacco use have halved in India this century, a positive trend that will have “huge implications” for a country where nearly one million people die from smoking each year.
The trend was highlighted by analysis from Our World in Data, which said smoking rates had fallen significantly for both sexes. Some countries, it added, have seen rates fall for men while rising for women.
India’s progress is exceptional but part of a wider trend. According to the World Health Organization, there’s been a 27% fall in the number of people smoking since 2010.