Have you been screened yet?

A report by the Geneva-based International Union Against Cancer (UICC) has revealed that 40 per cent of all cancers could be prevented by making lifestyle changes and protecting the body from infection.

It urges international health officials to drive home the importance of vaccines and lifestyle changes in fighting the disease.

The research suggested that the number of global cancer deaths is set to rise by 45 per cent by 2030.

Cervical cancer is primarily caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) but can be prevented with vaccines.

Survival rates for cervical cancer in the UK are around 85 per cent and are much higher than the global average because preventive measures such as the HPV vaccine are more readily available in developed countries.

Around 80 per cent of global cervical cancer cases occur in developing countries and the report said that more should be done to bridge this gap.

UICC president David Hill told Reuters: "The fact is that we have, now, the knowledge to prevent 40 per cent of cancers. The tragedy is we're not using it."