Australia Set on Wiping Out Cervical Cancer Within 20 Years
It is a cancer that the World Health Organisation says is the fourth most frequent cancer in women, with an estimated 570,000 new cases globally in 2018. However, cervical cancer can be prevented and Australia is leading the way in eradicating this illness.
According to a recent Guardian article, researchers forecast that the disease will soon be a rarity in Australia, with fewer than six new cases per 100,000 women by 2022, and fewer than four new cases per 100,000 women by 2035. This is thanks to a vigorous HPV vaccination program launched in 2007, which has shown vaccination rates of 79% for girls at age 15 and 73% for boys. This is complimented by a new five-yearly HPV cervical screening test for women aged 25-74, which replaced a two-yearly pap smear test. In response, there has been a 50% reduction in cervical cancer cases since 1991.
This research, which was released on the eve of Cervical Cancer Awareness Week, is welcoming news to ObGyns like Assistant Professor Dr. Rachel Kupets.
"In Ontario, we are as well taking key steps to prevent cervical cancer with school-based vaccination programs of girls and now boys," said Dr. Kupets. "The vaccine used, Gardisil 9, protects against 90% of all high-risk HPV viruses which cause cervical cancer, as well as many precancers and cancers of the lower genital tract. Achieving high vaccination rates within these programs will be key to primary prevention of this problem, meaning women who are vaccinated will be protected from the HPV virus and will not develop changes on their cervix which can transform into cancer."
However, vaccinations are not the only steps that can be taken to prevent this cancer, as screenings are also very important.
"Screening prevents cervical cancer by identifying the precancerous cellular changes on the cervix, which can then be removed by a simple procedure that will prevent cancer from developing," said Dr. Kupets. "Up until recently a Pap test was used as the best screening test, however now we have an even better, more sensitive test - the HPV primary screening test, which will identify those women who actually have an HPV infection that can lead to abnormal cells on the cervix. Screening for HPV has allowed doctors to find abnormal cells in a more accurate way by finding these changes earlier - this is called improved sensitivity. We also know that if a woman is found to be clear of an HPV infection that she is protected for at least 5 years from developing abnormal cells on the cervix."
Although Ontario does not have the same programs as Australia, they have announced funding for an HPV-based cervical screening test. The cervical cancer screening program will also be investigating how to bring this test to women who undergo screening in the province. The key message from this success story is, of course, that women continue to undergo regular cervical screening in order to prevent this cancer from ever taking shape.
Click here to read the full article from The Guardian.
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