Experts issue plea to Harris over HPV testing

EXPERTS in gynaecology and oncology gathered yesterday to urge the Government to move ‘urgently’ towards primary HPV testing as part of the cervical screening process.

According to the Irish Cancer Society, HPV testing would lead to 20% more detections of pre-cancerous abnormalities, with 30% more cervical cancer cases and deaths being avoided.

New forms of screening, which include HPV testing and vaccination, have the potential to eliminate cervical cancer within a generation, according to the ICS.

Its head of research, Dr Robert O’Connor, said 90 women will die of cervical cancer this year with a further 280 being diagnosed with the condition. However, a move towards HPV testing would not remove the need for the vaccination, which can stop the formation of cancerous cells in the first place, he said.

‘The vaccine is safe and proven to save lives, and the more people who are vaccinated, the more effective it will be for the population at large,’ said Dr O’Connor. ‘The women of Ireland deserve the best possible services when it comes to the safe prevention and early detection of cancer.’

The experts were speaking at a press conference organised by the ICS and Royal College of Physicians. Dr Cliona Murphy, of the college, said: ‘It’s important to note that screening does not, and never will, diagnose cancer. It exists to pick up changes which may lead to cancer, allowing doctors to treat the patient quickly and effectively before a cancer potentially arises.’

And Donal Brennan, professor of gynaecological oncology in UCD, warned that the cervical screenings are not 100% effective and that the public need to be made aware of that. ‘There is nothing 100% in medicine,’ he said.

‘[It is] clear that the implementation of primary HPV screening will not reduce the risk to zero either and bring quite significant challenges with how we deal with things in that situation too.’

When asked about the introduction of HPV testing, a spokesperson for Health Minister Simon Harris said: ‘The minister committed to its introduction this year. He has ensured extra resources are being deployed to work intensively on this.’

‘Vaccine is safe and proven to save lives’