Cervical cancer rates show ‘concerning plateau’, according to new data from the Canadian Cancer Society
According to the Canadian Cancer Society, after decades of decline, cervical cancer rates within Canada have plateaued — a troubling trend for some experts, given that the type of cancer is preventable.
Between 1984 and 2005, cervical cancer rates were steadily declining. bUT A report Published on Monday The annual percentage change for cervical cancer rates shows a plateau, below zero for the period 2005 to 2021 by the Canadian Cancer Statistics Advisory Committee.
“Cervical cancer is not the most common cause of cancer death among women in Canada, but every one in 430 deaths due to this cancer in 2025 could potentially be prevented,” the report said.
Cervical cancer is widely preventable through vaccination and screening against human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection that causes this type of cancer, as well as some head and neck cancers.
The World Health Organization has pledged to virtually eliminate cervical cancer within the century by reducing the rate to less than four cases diagnosed per 100,000 women, while Canada has set a goal of eliminating it within the country. by 2040,
“If things continue the way they are right now, we won’t be making that timeline,” said Brandon Purcell, advocacy manager for prevention and early detection at the Canadian Cancer Society.
the current23:51Ending cervical cancer ‘in our sights’
The data shows a “concerning plateau,” according to a news release for the report. TeaJennifer Gillis, monitoring director for the Canadian Cancer Society, says this is likely due to low HPV vaccination rates, declining rates of people getting tested and gaps in follow-up care.
It’s disappointing news for Shannon Pethick, who was diagnosed with cervical cancer at the age of 32 and had to undergo extensive radiation and chemotherapy treatments to fight it.
Pethick said, “It’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever gone through and I’m grateful I came out the other side… but I wouldn’t wish it on anyone to go through what I went through.”
Despite the discomfort caused by a Pap smear — a test that is widely used to screen for abnormal, possibly cancerous cells in the cervix — Pethick urges women not to put off screening or other prevention methods, given the potentially serious condition they are facing. consequences.
“I think if people understood the consequences of not having those tests, not having those vaccines, I don’t think we would be here,” Pethick said. “That pup’s minor discomfort is minor compared to the trouble you could get if you’re not getting it checked.”
She also hopes that more education can make women more aware of the options they have for prevention and testing.
Doctors in Ontario will now test for HPV, human papillomavirus, which is a more accurate test than the Pap test used to screen for cervical cancer. Many say this is a step in the right direction, although it still requires a thorough pelvic exam.
Things can change with more screening, vaccination
Purcell says Canada can get back on track to meet its 2040 elimination goals if it adopts policies to promote vaccination, increase access screening and adopt HPV testing instead of Pap testing for cervical cancer.
Dr. Amanda Selk, Obstetrician-Gynecologist at Women’s College HospitalPital in Toronto, SAyes, he is not surprised From the findings of the report aShe seems to be missing the screeningIn recent years, as people have lost access to their doctors during the COVID-19 pandemic, more Canadians have found themselves without a family doctor. SHe says we need to “find new ways to test people that don’t involve the family doctor,” whether that’s through nurse-run clinics or at-home testing.
At-home testing – which involves taking a vaginal swab yourself and sending it off for screening – So far only adopted in BC. TeaThe HAT option has proven effective in other countries, including Sweden, where population testing coverage for the Stockholm region was observed increased from 75 percent to 85 percent In just a year since they first introduced the option to test at home During the pandemic.
A new report in the Canadian Medical Association Journal recommends self-screening for certain medical issues like cervical cancer to help reduce disparities among some groups that avoid getting tested. Experts say the measure could help catch more cases of cervical cancer and potentially eliminate it altogether.
Selk says she wants the home testing option to be adopted nationwide. “I think that’s what women in Canada want… they want options,” Selk said. “We have the technology, but not the access.”
Replacing Pap smears, which involves taking a vaginal swab and testing for abnormal cells in the cervix that may or may turn into cervical cancer, with testing for HPV is another measure recommended by the Canadian Cancer Society.
While a Pap smear only detects abnormal cells already, testing for the HPV virus lets doctors know if a patient may develop cancer in the future. Ontario, BC, Quebec and PEI have so far replaced Pap tests with HPV tests — a move Selk calls “wonderful.”
The HPV vaccine has also proven to be very effective in preventing cervical cancer – a 2024 study in Scotland found There were no cases of cervical cancer among young women who were fully vaccinated For HPV.
The vaccine is free for school-age children across Canada, and Selk encourages parents to get their children vaccinated against HPV. According to experts, adults who missed the shot while in school are still able to get it, although they often have to pay for it out of pocket, whileHitch may cost humillions of dollars.
Purcell says switching to a “once eligible, always eligible” policy will allow Canadians to get vaccinated for free regardless of their age, protecting more people from HPV and the cancers it causes.
Other countries like Sweden, where they have a public health department, are running out-of-the-box vaccination campaignsworked closely with ent Movie theaters will give out movie tickets and HPV shots Besides, it has also helped in increasing vaccination. Sweden also has a program to allow some women who previously received an older version of the vaccine to to get caught Free at the most effective dosage.
Other findings
In addition to the cervical cancer findings, there were rays of hope in the data, which broadly assessed the impact of all types of cancer within Canada.
More Canadians overall are battling cancer – in the 1990s, the five-year net survival rate for all types of cancer was 55 per cent, but according to estimates, that figure is now 64 per cent.
The incidence and number of deaths from lung cancer and especially colorectal cancer have also declined in recent years.
