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.
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 infection with human papillomavirus (HPV), and that infection with a high-risk HPV type is necessary, although not sufficient, for the development of cancer.
Why is cervical screening important?
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. Regular cervical screening using the Pap test (sometimes referred to as the Pap smear) aims to reduce the incidence of cervical cancer by identifying treatable pre-cancerous abnormalities as well as illness and death from cervical cancer.
National Cervical Screening Program
The National Cervical Screening Program (NCSP) commenced in 1991 and operates as a joint program of the Australian and state and territory governments. The NCSP aims to screen women aged 20–69 years.
The AIHW monitors and reports on the performance of the NCSP. The latest publication, Cervical screening in Australia 2008–2009, was released in October 2011.
Further information
For further details or comments, e-mail .
For more information on BreastScreen Australia please see www.cancerscreening.gov.au.