ITV Dr Amir's cancer warning as he says 'most people don't know'

A doctor has issued a warning about cancer, saying “lots of people don’t know”. The expert shared some vital advice about cervical and vaginal cancer. In a video clip from his podcast No Appointment Necessary, Doctor Amir Khan spoke with co-host Cherry Healey about the causes and potential prevention of these diseases. The clip was titled, “most people don’t know this”. Dr Amir, who is best known for his appearances on ITV , said: “Lots of people don't know that they can get vaginal cancer. So the vagina is just corridor almost leading up to your cervix from your vulva, right?” One way to detect cancer in these areas of the body early is to look for HPV, which can be spread through sex and any skin-to-skin contact of the genital area. This is done during a smear test, which is typically offered to women every three to five years. He continued: “We're only testing for the human papillomavirus, HPV, that causes over 99 per cent of cervical cancers, that is why it's really important that we screen for this .” Cherry then asked: “Can you get cervical cancer without HPV?” Dr Amir replied: “You can, but it's 0.3 per cent of the cervical cancer, so the chance is, is very small.” Dr Amir therefore advocated for the HPV vaccine as a preventative measure. He said: “The HPV vaccine is amazing. “It's given to young people. Usually - I'm not very good at school years - but it's year 8, which is 12 to 13. “The key thing is, the reason why we give it to such young people, is that we want to train their immune system before they're exposed to the virus through sex or whatever. So giving it to that age group is really useful because when they are exposed to it, their immune system is ready to take it down.” On the NHS website , it clarifies that the HPV vaccine is recommended and available on the NHS for children aged 12 to 13 years old and people at higher risk from HPV. This includes: All children aged 12 to 13 (school year 8) Young people aged 24 and under who missed getting vaccinated as a child Men aged 45 and under who have sex with men Any transgender people who are felt to have the same risk as men who have sex with men Sex workers People with HIV The NHS adds: “It's still important to attend cervical screening appointments if you've been vaccinated against HPV, as there's still a small chance you could get cervical cancer.” Symptoms of cervical cancer include: Vaginal bleeding that's unusual for you – including bleeding during or after sex, between your periods or after the menopause, or having heavier periods than usual Changes to your vaginal discharge Pain during sex Pain in your lower back, between your hip bones (pelvis), or in your lower tummy The main symptoms of vaginal cancer are usually: A lump in the vagina Ulcers and other skin changes in or around the vagina Other symptoms of vaginal cancer include: Bleeding from the vagina after the menopause Bleeding after sex or pain during sex Smelly or bloodstained vaginal discharge Bleeding between periods An itch in your vagina that will not go away Pain when you pee, or needing to pee a lot If you experience any symptoms, you should speak to your GP.