There are more than 730 new cases of cervical cancer diagnosed among Australian women each year, and around 208 women die from the disease each year. The incidence of cervical cancer in Australian women aged 20 to 69 has almost halved since the introduction of a national screening program in 1991. It has been estimated that cervical screening saves more than 1,200 women from developing cervical cancer each year.
In recent years there have been major developments with the potential to impact on future cervical screening programs worldwide, particularly the development of a vaccine to combat human papilloma virus (HPV) and new screening technologies, as well as emerging evidence in relation to screening intervals.
Cancer Council Australia’s Public Health Committee has developed a position statement which provides background information about cervical cancer risk and screening through the Pap test, including the role of the human papilloma virus. It also summarises and gives some perspective to recent scientific advances in this area.