What is cervical cancer?
Cervical cancer affects the cells of the cervix, which is the lower part of the uterus where it joins the inner end of the vagina. Like other cancers, cervical cancer is a disease where normal cells change, begin to multiply out of control, and form a growth or tumour. Cervical cells however exhibit precancerous abnormalities which can be detected through screening before possible progression to cancer occurs.
Excluding non-melanoma skin cancer, cervical cancer is 13th most common cancer affecting Australian women, with about 780 new cases diagnosed in 2008 and around 200 deaths in 2007.
During the last decade a greater understanding of the natural history of cervical cancer has developed. It is now recognised that cervical cancer is a rare outcome of persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Infection with a high-risk HPV type is necessary, although not sufficient, for the development of cancer.
About the National Cervical Screening Program
The National Cervical Screening Program aims to reduce cervical cancer cases as well as illness and death resulting from cervical cancer through an organised approach to cervical screening aimed at detecting and treating high-grade abnormalities before possible progression to cervical cancer. More women having regular Pap tests means that more of the serious diseases that can lead to cervical cancer can be found and treated. This leads to fewer cases of cervical cancer, and fewer women dying from this disease.
The National Cervical Screening Program recommends Pap tests every two years for women aged 18–20 or over who have ever been sexually active—including women who have been vaccinated against HPV.
For more information on the National Cervical Screening Program, see Cervical screening in Australia 2009-2010.
Participation in the National Cervical Screening Program
In Australia, 57.2% of women had at least one Pap test in the 2-year period 2010–2011. Measuring participation over a 3-year and 5-year period, rather than a 2-year period, found that 70.1% of women aged 20–69 participated in the NCSP at least once in the 3-year period 2009–2011, and 83.4% had at least one Pap test in the 5-year period 2007–2011.
This led to the detection of around 16,000 cases of serious disease each year, a proportion of which may have otherwise led to cervical cancer.
Analysis of participation rates by remoteness shows that participation was similar across remoteness areas. Participation was just slightly higher in Major cities and in Inner regional areas than in other areas.
Of the factors analysed, socioeconomic status appeared to affect cervical screening participation the most, with women living in areas of higher socioeconomic status more likely to screen.
These participation rates are similar to previous years.
Data
Please contact the Cancer screening team if you require this data in alternative formats.
Further information
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For more information on the National Cervical Cancer Screening Program visit www.cancerscreening.gov.au.