Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women and people with a cervix worldwide, and around 3,300 people are diagnosed with cervical cancer in the UK each year, or around nine per day. 

Anyone with a cervix can develop cervical cancer and, while Cancer Research UK estimates that 99.8% of cervical cancer cases are preventable, incidence rates remain surprisingly high. Preventing and spotting cervical cancer at an early stage relies on attending regular cervical screenings and developing a thorough understanding of your personal factors that could contribute to developing the disease.

The risk of cervical cancer changes significantly over time, and both the likelihood of being diagnosed and the outcomes and survival rates are strongly influenced by age. September is Gynaecological Cancer Awareness Month, and the medical negligence solicitors who specialise in cancer cases at JMW want to raise awareness of the risk factors that people face at different ages.

Although attending regular cervical cancer screenings and receiving the HPV vaccine if you are eligible can help minimise your risk of cervical cancer, there are other factors that can be taken into consideration. Learn more in this guide about the risk factors by age, and take the opportunity to recognise the steps you can take to protect yourself.

How Does Cervical Cancer Risk Change According to Age?

There are many factors that can affect your risk of developing cervical cancer. While almost all cases are tied to the human papillomavirus (HPV), factors like your overall health, genetics and lifestyle can affect your likelihood. Across all ages, the lifetime risk of developing cervical cancer in the UK is about 1 in 130 women, but data shows that age also plays a particular role.

The risk of diagnosis changes across a woman’s lifetime, and cervical cancer incidence rates show a clear increased risk in certain age brackets. Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women aged 15-44. It is also possible to break these statistics down further to show the risk of cervical cancer for specific age demographics.

• Under 25: Cases are rare in this age group. Most HPV infections clear naturally in younger women before they can cause long-term problems or develop cervical cancer cells. This is why routine screening is only offered to those over the age of 25, although incidence rates begin to rise between the ages of 15-19. The introduction of HPV vaccinations for young people in the UK will also significantly reduce the risk for this demographic.
• Ages 25-34: Risk rises sharply from 25, with the highest number of new cases diagnosed between 30 and 34 years old. This age group experiences the highest incidence rate of cervical cancer in the UK, with an average of 481 new cases per year.
• Ages 35-49: Rates remain elevated, though slightly lower than in the early 30s, with a mean average of 371 new cases per year.
• Ages 50-64: Risk declines compared with younger women but is still present. Long-term figures from England show a 64% fall in incidence among women over 50 between 1985 and 2019, as reported by the US' National Center for Biotechnology Information. This improvement is largely due to cervical cancer prevention and screening programmes introduced in the 1980s.
• 65 and over: Fewer new cases occur in this group, but when they do, cancers are often detected at a later stage. Screening on the NHS typically stops at age 64, unless recent tests have shown abnormalities. Survival rates in those diagnosed at age 65 or over are also lower than for those diagnosed at an earlier age.

Cervical cancer is one of the few cancers with a well-established cause, as almost all cases are linked to persistent infection with high-risk types of the human papillomavirus (HPV). While HPV infection is common across all sexually active age groups, the likelihood of developing cervical cancer and the chances of surviving it vary significantly based on these age demographics.

What Is the Survival Rate for Cervical Cancer?

The likelihood of surviving cervical cancer largely depends on the stage of the cancer when it is diagnosed, with earlier cervical cancer detection leading to more successful treatment and a higher survival rate. However, age also plays a role in this, as do risk factors like tobacco use, genetic predisposition and overall health. More than 80% of people diagnosed with cervical cancer will survive for at least one year after their diagnosis, but this varies according to age demographics.

• Under 40: Survival outcomes are best in this group. 88.8% of younger women aged 15-44 survive for at least five years after diagnosis, according to Cancer Research UK, and 86.4% survive for at least ten years.
• Ages 40-54: Survival rates decline slightly, but remain strong with 75.2% of people surviving for five years and 68.7% surviving for ten years.
• Ages 55-74: Survival is lower than in younger groups, as cancers are more often advanced when found, and other health conditions may affect treatment. An average of 56.9% of people survive for five years (although only 49.7% of those aged 65-74 will survive for five years), and 47.25% are likely to survive for ten years.
• Age 75+: Survival is poorest in this group. Only about 25% survive five years or more after diagnosis, and just over 18% survive for more than ten years.

Cervical screenings have played an important role in significantly improving survival rates for cervical cancer since the 1980s. Attending cervical screenings, and avoiding unhealthy lifestyle choices such as smoking, are the best steps an individual can take to minimise their risk of developing cervical cancer.

Why Are Cervical Cancer Screenings Important?

Early detection is key to improving survival rates, and the introduction of regular cervical screenings by the NHS in the 1980s contributed to a significant improvement to this rate. These screenings are designed to check for abnormal cells and high-risk HPV types. If they are found, medical professionals should refer you for further tests or treatment, which can help to prevent cervical cancer from developing or progressing if action is taken urgently.

Unfortunately, there remains a risk that invasive cervical cancer cells may be missed or mistaken for normal cervical cells. In some cases, treatment options are limited because diagnosis has been significantly delayed, or because a patient was not referred for the correct follow-up tests. These kinds of medical mistakes can have a serious effect on outcomes and survival rates.

In these cases, it may be possible to secure compensation for harm you suffered as a result. You can even claim compensation on behalf of a loved one who died from cancer due to mistakes such as these. Contact JMW’s medical negligence solicitors who specialise in cervical cancer cases to learn more about how we can help by calling 0345 872 6666, or use our online enquiry form to request a call back.