Prevention

There are 3 main preventative strategies for cervical cancer.

• Screening

The cervical cancer screening test detects the presence of the HPV virus so it can be further investigated or treated before it causes cancer. A severe infection of HPV can cause changes in a cell's DNA which makes it behave abnormally and potentially develop into cancer. 4 in 5 sexually active people will be infected with HPV in their lives, and the immune system usually clears it out before it presents symptoms. HPV infection causes 95 percent of cervical cancers, making the detection screening test invaluble in detecting and treating the virus in the early stages. The National Cervical Screening program in Australia provides free cervical screening tests to women aged 25 to 74 and invites them to have their test every 5 years.

• Immunisation

Immunisation against the HPV virus has been shown to reduce cases of cervical cancer. The National Immunisation Program Schedule reccomends having the HPV vaccination between ages of 9 and 14 for full effectiveness in preperation before the individual becomes sexually active. The vaccination works by injecting a weakened or synthetic version of the virus into a person so their immune system can develop the corresponding antibodies before a real infection and be able to fight it off effectively. The HPV vaccine gives the immune system the antibodies for the HPV virus so if a person is infected, it shouldn't become severe enough to cause cervical cancer.

• Health Education

This website aims to educate teens and young adults about the risk factors, screening process and preventative strategies for cervical cancer in a way that is easy to understand and take action before they are at risk. Health education is crucial in slowing the spread of HPV and the rates of cervical cancer. Safe sexual practices and stopping spread of STIs is part of the school health curriculum and provides resources to students and schools about how to reduce their risk of contracting an STI. Other programs like Alcohol Think Again and Quitline reduce the amount of people that drink alcohol and smoke cigarettes, both of which have been proven to cause cancers including cervical cancer.

Applying screening to the community

Screening for cancer is essential to reducing the burden on society because it allows for early intervention, more effective treatment and overall increases good outcomes for patients. More than 70% of cervical cancers diagnosed in women between 25 and 74 were from individuals who had never screened or skipped screening time.

From the cervical screening's introduction in 1991 to 2017, two-yearly Pap (Papanicolaou) tests were offered which detected abnormal cells in the cervix. From 2018 onwards, the test changed to the cervical screening test, which detects HPV and is more effective in detecting earlier signs of cancer than the pap test. Since the new test is more effective when applied to populations, it is only required every five years.

Everyone with a cervix is invited to get a cervical screening test every five years after turning 25. If you're due for a test or interested in where to get one, you can use the HealthDirect Service Finder to locate your nearest doctors office, women's health clinic or hospital.