Pap test thing of the past
WOMEN will need to have cervical cancer tests only once every five years instead of every two with the release of a new, more sensitive test that is expected to prevent up to one in three from developing the deadly disease.
In what will elicit sighs of relief from women across the country, the new human papillomavirus (HPV) test, which replaces the pap smear, is available from today. While it will be the same procedure, women will only have to be tested once every five years.
Cervical cancer is the 14th most commonly diagnosed cancer in women, and this year it is predicted that another 912 will be diagnosed in Australia.
The cancer can be deadly, although between 2009-2013, the five-year survival rate for women diagnosed with it was about 70 per cent. In 2014, there were 223 deaths from cervical cancer in Australia. In 2017, it is estimated that this will increase to 254 deaths.
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said the new test was more accurate and effective. “The new HPV test will prevent up to 30 per cent more women from developing cervical cancer because it detects HPV, an early risk indicator for cervical cancer,’’ he said.
The current pap smear test detects cervical abnormalities after they occur.
“The new test is more effective than the current pap test, so most women will only need to be tested every five years, instead of every two,” Mr Hunt said. “Women who are 25 years or older should have their first cervical screening test two years after their last pap test.
“If no HPV is detected, they can then move to a test every five years.”
Mr Hunt said that while cervical cancer was one of the most preventable cancers, women were not being screened enough.
“About 80 per cent of Australian women who develop cervical cancer do not get screened regularly as recommended, or have never been screened,” he said.
It comes as Gardasil 9 – a vaccine that protects women from four strains of HPV – will next year be offered through the national immunisation program as part of the schoolbased vaccination program.
Gardasil was invented by University of Queensland Professor Ian Frazer.
Both the university and Prof Frazer have shown their philanthropic spirit by waiving millions of dollars in royalties to ensure the vaccine is able to reach developing countries.