Latest news with #DiMathews
BBC News
2 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Guernsey cervical screening invites to change
Invitations for cervical screening will be sent out every five years instead of every three for women aged 25 to 49 in Guernsey if they have a negative Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is in line with NHS England, which is also introducing the change from 1 HPV infection can cause changes to cells in the cervix, and leads to almost all of the main types of cervical Public Health said it wanted to eliminate cervical cancer on the island by 2030, a decade ahead of NHS England's national target. Currently cervical screenings are offered to all women and people with a cervix aged 25 to the moment people are automatically invited every three years if aged 25 to 49 and every five years if aged 50 to 65. 'Preventable and curable' A recent study showed that screening every five years is as safe as doing it every three years, as the same number of cancers are found and fewer screening tests are needed."Cervical cancer is preventable and curable, and we now have the tools to make the disease a thing of the past," said Di Mathews, strategic screening lead."The reason we have decided to follow England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland with this change is because the new test used in cervical screening picks up problems earlier than the older screening test that was previously used by the programme. "Women and people with a cervix who test negative for HPV are very low risk and those who have a recent history of HPV will be invited more frequently."
BBC News
03-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
UV skin protection 'not just about cloudy days'
Islanders are being reminded about the importance of protecting themselves from skin Health and Meteorology departments from Guernsey and Jersey have been working together to explain what Ultraviolet Radiation (UV) is and how over-exposure could lead to skin Aked, head of meteorology at the Jersey Met Office, said UV rays were invisible to the human eye, but there were two types that reached the ground, UVA and added the highest levels of UV were typically between 11:00 BST and 15:00 but weather and cloud could play a part. "However UV can still get through some cloud, so it's not just about the cloudless days."Sand and water are also good reflectors which increase exposure too," he added. UV levels are measured on a scale known as the Ultraviolet Index (UVI), a standard, international measure of ultraviolet radiation. 'Understanding UV is very important' Di Mathews, public health strategic screening lead in Guernsey, said the weather was a popular topic of conversation but also an important one. "Both UVA and UVB can be harmful, UVA damages the skin, causing aging and, along with UVB causes sunburn which together increase the risk of skin cancer.""Skin cancer rates in Guernsey and Jersey are very high, higher than the South of England, so understanding UV and the UVI is very important." Ms Mathews added: "The best way to protect yourself from skin cancer is to cover up with loose fitting clothing, wear a wide brimmed hat and sunglasses, stay inside, and use a sun cream of Factor 30 or above."A States of Guernsey wellbeing survey showed that nearly half of Guernsey residents had at least one episode of sunburn in the last year. It said 73% of people, aged 16 to 24 years, reported having been sunburnt in the previous year.
