Kingsville, Seddon are revealed as Victoria’s cervical cancer hot spot
Kingsville and Seddon have been revealed as the worst in Victoria for cervical cancer – almost a third above the national average. But the reason why might surprise you.
North West
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A gynaecologist is calling on women in the west to get their cervix screened after Maribyrnong ranked as a cervical cancer hot spot.
Kingsville and Seddon have the highest rate of cervical cancer in Victoria at 29 per cent above the Australian average.
Consultant gynaecologist David Wrede said high rates of cervical cancer were always linked to low cervical screening numbers.
But Mr Wrede said in Kingsville and Seddon there were definitely other factors at play.
“These areas have a lower socio-economic attainment status and that is always translated to a lower rate and engagement with screening,” he said.
“The other issue is about 40 per cent of people in these areas record themselves as having a mother tongue other than English.
“They’re probably recent immigrants and might not know about cervical screening, they might not have that in the countries they’re from.”
He said family commitments, not having enough time for yourself and not having sufficient information in your first language were other factors that contributed to the extreme statistic.
The gynaecologist said it was imperative women took a cervical screening test every five years after they turned 25.
“If you have an invitation from the national register, get screened – and if you’re concerned that you haven’t had a test in the last two years talk to your GP,” Mr Wrede said.
Cervical cancer is caused predominantly by HPV and transmitted through sexual intercourse.
Although 90 per cent of acute HPV infections will resolve by themselves, cells that persist can cause abnormalities that cause cancer to develop months or years later.
Symptoms of the disease include bleeding after intercourse, urinary issues, pelvic pain and general bleeding and discharge.
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To increase your chances of living cancer free, Mr Wrede said you should make sure your family is vaccinated against HPV – boys and girls.
“If we could get everyone on the planet vaccinated tomorrow and get some form of screening out this could be in statistical terms eliminated,” he said.
Although the modern vaccine protects against seven types of HPV responsible for more than 90 per cent of cervical cancer in Australia, it does not protect against all types and women must still get regular screenings.
Australia has about 900 cases of the cancer each year, with one in four women dying from the disease.
Mr Wrede said women who were afraid or hesitant to get tested could use a self test.
“If they find a practitioner collected sample too difficult they can go to their local GP, be given a swab and take a sample themselves in the loo,” he said.