| As Cervical Cancer Awareness Month comes to an end, Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre’s (RVH) Hudson Regional Cancer Centre is reminding people across Simcoe Muskoka that cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers. Routine screening and vaccination can stop it before it starts.
For many people, cervical screening has meant regular Pap tests. The new screening test now offers a more accurate test that can safely be done less often. Yet, one in three eligible people in North Simcoe Muskoka is not up to date with cervical screening, often due to barriers such as limited access to primary care, time or past experiences with care. Nearly 99 per cent of cervical cancers are caused by human papillomavirus, commonly known as HPV, a virus that can live in the body for years without causing symptoms. The new test now looks directly for HPV, the virus that causes cervical cell changes. This allows risk to be identified earlier, before cancer develops. The traditional Pap test looked for abnormal cells after changes had already begun. Prevention does not stop with screening. The HPV vaccine protects against the most common high-risk types of the virus and plays a key role in preventing cervical cancer before it starts. “HPV screening allows us to test directly for the virus that causes pre-cancer and cancer of the cervix, making it a much more accurate screening tool,” said Dr. Jennifer Tomas, a Collingwood gynecologist and Cervical Screening and Colposcopy Lead for North Simcoe Muskoka. “With that accuracy, screening can be done less often. When combined with HPV vaccination, it is a powerful step toward preventing — and ultimately eliminating — cervical cancer.” Because the test is more accurate, most people only need to be screened every five years instead of every three. Anyone aged 25 or older who has a cervix and has ever had sexual contact should take part in regular cervical screening, regardless of gender identity. This includes those who feel healthy, have had the HPV vaccine, are post-menopausal or have not been sexually active in years. HPV testing provides a clearer picture of cancer risk. It helps healthcare providers focus follow-up care on those who need it, while safely reducing unnecessary testing and procedures for those at low risk. For patients, the HPV test is performed in a similar way to a Pap test and is a fast, non-painful procedure. A doctor, nurse practitioner or midwife uses a speculum to view the cervix and a small, soft brush to collect cells from the cervix, while maintaining as much comfort for the patient as possible. Anyone unsure about when they are due for screening, need help finding a provider or want more information can contact the Simcoe Muskoka Cancer Screening Hotline at 1-866-608-6910 to learn more and discuss next steps.
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