Ontario Researchers And Screening Experts Publish The First Integrated Strategy Evaluating HPV Immunization And Cervical Cancer Screening

Main Category: Cervical Cancer / HPV Vaccine
Also Included In: Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 17 Apr 2009 - 0:00 PDT

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Cervical cancer is preventable. Yet, it is the second most common cancer among women world-wide and is the leading cause of female cancer deaths in developing countries.

Published in an upcoming special edition of the Preventive Medicine journal - entitled, "Defining a Strategy to Evaluate Cervical Cancer Prevention and Early Detection in the Era of HPV Vaccination" - researchers and screening experts at Cancer Care Ontario (CCO) and the University of Toronto have defined the first integrated strategy to evaluate the effectiveness of HPV immunization and cervical cancer screening.

"Regular Pap tests combined with HPV vaccination can likely prevent most cases of cervical cancer, but neither approach alone will eradicate cervical cancer unless we undertake targeted approaches to ensure that women who are seldom or never screened have access to both," said Dr. Robbi Howlett, lead author and Manager, Ontario Cervical Screening Program, CCO.

Other authors include Dr. Anthony Miller, University of Toronto and Dr. George Pasut, Vice- President, Prevention and Screening and Dr. Verna Mai, Provincial Lead, Public Health at Cancer Care Ontario in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Ontario's goal is that by 2020, 95 per cent of eligible women will participate in cervical screening and receive HPV vaccine. This vaccine can prevent two high-risk (16 and 18) and two low-risk (6 and 11) HPV types and is available, since 2007, to grade eight females as part of Ontario's voluntary school-based immunization program. Being vaccinated does not guarantee protection, as there are several other high-risk HPV types that can lead to cancer of the cervix.

Starting within three years of first sexual activity, regular Pap tests are a woman's next best defence against cervical cancer. Pap tests can detect changes in the cervix before a woman might notice any symptoms. We need to make sure that young women receiving HPV vaccine today know that cervical screening is still a very important part of their future regular health checkups. All women who are or have ever been sexually active need regular Pap tests.

To learn more about the Ontario Cervical Screening Program, please visit Cancer Care Ontario continually improves cancer services so that fewer people get cancer and patients receive better care.

Source
Cancer Care Ontario