HPV jab successes boost cancer charity's campaign

4 hours ago

Philippa Goymer,in Sunderlandand

Evie Lake,North East and Cumbria

Amber Rose Cliff died in 2017 after being diagnosed with cervical cancer

Cliff family A slightly blurry photo of Amber Rose Cliff who has long blonde curly hair and is smiling into the camera. She is wearing large, silver earrings and a light pink dress which is cinched at the waist. Her left hand is on her hip. She is standing in front of dark, wooden doors and there is a hedge to the right. — Amber Rose Cliff died in 2017 after being diagnosed with cervical cancer

A charity set up in memory of a 25-year-old who died of cervical cancer has welcomed the news children vaccinated at age 12 and 13 against HPV (human papillomavirus) have close to zero risk of dying from the disease.

A study published on Thursday showed deaths had fallen sharply since students were first offered the vaccine in 2008, with about 200 lives saved in England so far.

Amber Rose Cliff, from Sunderland, died in 2017 after being denied a cervical screening due to her age.

Nicola Austin-Ratcliffe, trustee of Amber's Legacy, said the news was "absolutely fantastic" and "strengthens" the charity's campaign.

"Amber was having active symptoms and went to her GP on numerous occasions requesting a smear," Austin-Ratcliffe said.

She was only 22 and cervical screenings are offered from age 25.

When she finally went private, Amber was diagnosed with stage two cervical cancer.

Nicola Austin-Ratcliffe said the study "strengthens" the charity's campaign

Nicola Austin-Ratcliffe looking into the camera which a straight face and pouting lips. She has long, straight dark hair and is wearing large, square glasses. She is sitting in a living room with a tan leather sofa and is wearing a turquoise t-shirt. — Nicola Austin-Ratcliffe said the study "strengthens" the charity's campaign

"Unfortunately after a long battle, Amber lost her life," Austin-Ratcliffe said.

Amber's Legacy, which was set up by her dad, goes into schools to educate pupils about the importance of the HPV vaccination.

Austin-Ratcliffe said: "They really want to talk about it and when you get a group of kids it can be quite embarrassing for them to talk.

"But I think in a group setting we're very relaxed about how we talk to the kids, they can come to us and the feedback's been really good."

The study, which is the first of its kind, found between 2020 and 2024 no cervical cancer deaths were recorded in women aged 20 to 24 - the first time that had happened over a five-year period.

"It's absolutely fantastic," Austin-Ratcliffe said.

"This just really strengthens our campaign and just makes all the work that we've done just so worth it."

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