Cervical Cancer: ‘Prevent it, find it, treat it!’
Women are being urged to make sure their smear tests are up to date. The appeal comes during Cervical Cancer Prevention Week, which runs from January 23 to 29.
In addition, the HSE’s National Screening Service, National Immunisation Office (NIO) and National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) have joined forces to develop Ireland’s roadmap to reach global targets for the elimination of cervical cancer.
Launched on Monday, the roadmap shows the strides made so far towards preventing against and eliminating cervical cancer and sets out signposts and goals for the future.
Goals
The global goals have been developed by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The key targets for all countries are:
- By 2030, 90% of girls should be fully vaccinated with HPV vaccine by 15 years of age;
- 70% of women should be screened using a high-performance test by age 35 years, and again by age 45; and
- 90% of those identified with cervical disease should receive appropriate treatment.
Modelling work is already under way on setting Ireland’s specific target date to reach elimination, and this will be unveiled later this year.
The key message for this Cervical Cancer Prevention Week is to #GetInformed about cervical cancer elimination.
This means everyone – women, parents, young adults – getting informed about the causes of cervical cancer and the human papillomavirus (HPV); and about how HPV vaccination, cervical screening, early treatment and symptom awareness are key tools in our fight against cervical cancer.
What everyone should know
- Cervical cancer can be preventable and treatable, if detected early and managed well;
- What cervical cancer is, and how to reduce the risk of developing it;
- How cervical cancer is linked to HPV;
- How vaccination can protect you against HPV, and against cervical cancer developing;
- The role of cervical screening in reducing the incidence and impact of cervical cancer;
- The symptoms of cervical cancer and where to go if you are experiencing them Commenting this week, Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, said Ireland is in a "strong position" to achieve these targets with effective HPV vaccination, cervical screening and cancer treatment services. “Most importantly, we are fortunate to have an alliance of passionate and committed advocates for both HPV vaccination and cervical screening, who are all united in the desire to consign cervical cancer to the history books.” Dr Caroline Mason Mohan, director of Public Health, HSE National Screening Service and head of the HSE’s Cervical Cancer Elimination Strategy Group said: “As we develop our action plan this year we will focus on improving vaccination, screening and treatment uptake in groups of people who, for various reasons, do not use these options. So, to achieve elimination it takes us all to play our part.”
Professor Noirin Russell, clinical director of CervicalCheck, said: "As a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist I have seen the terrible impact of a diagnosis of cervical cancer on women and their families. I know that there are many more women who have accessed early treatment through screening that has stopped cervical cancer developing. In Ireland we’re incredibly fortunate to have the tools to achieve the goal of making cervical cancer a very rare disease.
“If you are a young person, boy or girl, take the HPV vaccination - it can stop the virus damaging your health. If you are a woman, take up the offer of regular screening tests. Finding and treating abnormal cells at the earliest possible stages is really important. Prevent it - find it - treat it. These are the three things we need to do well in Ireland to reduce the risk of cervical cancer."
Key facts
Cervical cancer is cancer of the cervix, which is the neck of the womb. HPV can cause changes to the cells in the cervix over time. Abnormal cells (sometimes called pre-cancerous cells) are not cancer but they can lead to cancer if left untreated.
In most cases, it takes 10 to 15 years for cervical cancer to develop. Almost all cases of cervical cancer (over 90%) are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV).
Each year in Ireland, around 300 women get cervical cancer and around 90 die from this terrible disease. In women aged 25 to 39 years, cervical cancer is the second most common cause of death due to cancer. The WHO has defined elimination as fewer than four cases per 100,000 people. Our current incidence in Ireland is around 11 cases per 100,000 people.
The Laura Brennan HPV Vaccination Catch-Up Programme is open to those who have not received a HPV vaccine and are:
- Females who have completed second-level school and are 24 years of age or younger
- Females in second to sixth year of secondary school
- Males in second to fourth year of secondary school (or fifth year if they have skipped transition year this school year).
The HPV vaccine will be delivered by HSE vaccinators and is available free of charge through HSE vaccination clinics and schools. The first year school immunisation programme will continue as normal throughout 2023 and is not part of the catch-up programme.