Australia boasts massive cancer breakthrough
A groundbreaking report reveals Australia has achieved what was once thought impossible when it comes to cervical cancer.
Australia is on track to become the first country to eliminate cervical cancer by 2035, according to a new report.
The Centre for Research Excellence in Cervical Cancer Control released a report that confirmed that cervical cancer rates among Australians continues to fall.
In 2020 the rate was 6.6 per 100,000 people. In 2021 it dropped to 6.3 per every 100,000. Now, for the first time since cervical cancer rates began to be documented in 1982, there were no cervical cancer diagnoses in women under 25 in 2021.
Survival rates have also improved with the five-year rate rising from 73.9 per cent in 2016 to 76.8 per cent in 2021.
Rebecca White, the Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health and the Assistant Minister for Women, said: “Australia is leading the world in cervical cancer elimination, but we must maintain momentum to make this goal a reality.
“The Albanese Government is determined to eliminate cervical cancer by 2035 and to ensure cervical screening is inclusive, accessible and effective.
“Australia’s early adoption of HPV vaccines for girls and young women and timely switch to cervical screening rather than Pap smears have us well on track to achieve elimination and save more lives,” Ms White added.
“But we must continue to improve equitable access to maintain rates of HPV vaccination and make sure everyone has access to cervical screening.”
However, one concerning detail is that HPV vaccinations and cervical screening rates have fallen.
The National Cervical Screening program reported that 27 per cent of women aged 25 to 74 were not screened between 2019 and 2023. This is despite being eligible for checks every five years.
Australia’s updated HPV vaccine protects against HPV subtypes responsible for 90 per cent of cervical cancer cases. Around 250 people die from cervical cancer every year. Experts have urged people get tested.
However the Centre for Research Excellence in Cervical Cancer Control report suggested a lot of women have taken up self-collection for testing. This is in part due to the Albanese Government funded the Own It campaign that raised awareness that this was an option.
This includes many people who have never had a test before and has proved popular for First Nations, LGBTQIA+ and multicultural people.
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Originally published as Australia boasts massive cancer breakthrough
