Most unaware of life-saving screening

A new survey from Cancer Council Victoria has revealed an alarming gap in knowledge about cervical screening in regional Victoria.

Regional Victorian women and people with a cervix are being reminded about the importance of regular cervical screening, as the research found less than half of those surveyed were aware they needed to screen every five years.

The Cervical Screening Test replaced the Pap Test in 2017 and looks for the human papillomavirus (HPV), which causes almost all cervical cancers.

The test is offered every five years to women and people with a cervix aged 25-74 to protect against cervical cancer.

Cancer Council Victoria surveyed more than 700 eligible women and people with a cervix in regional Victoria, and found that:

• One in 10 respondents knew they needed to start screening at 25
• One in five respondents knew that the test looks for HPV, and
• Half of respondents knew about the self-collection testing option.

Geelong resident Tracey Pickett was feeling fit and healthy when a routine Cervical Screening Test in her thirties came back abnormal.

“I went in for my regular test feeling fine. I wasn’t overdue and my previous tests had all been negative, so I wasn’t expecting anything to come up,” she said.

“I was so confident that my test would be fine that I had actually moved states when I received the call from my doctor telling me that it had been abnormal and that I needed to go in immediately for further testing.”

Ms Pickett went back in for more tests and a few weeks later was diagnosed with stage 2B cervical cancer, but as the cancer had been found early, it was able to be treated.

Having just celebrated 10 years of being cancer-free, Ms Pickett is urging all women and people with a cervix in regional Victoria to have a Cervical Screening Test if they are due or overdue.

She said anyone who had been putting off their Cervical Screening Test could use the self-collection option, which can be done in a private space in a health clinic.

“With the self-collection test, you can take your own sample from the vagina using a swab.

“It’s completely private, it only takes a couple of minutes and it’s just as accurate as a test done by a doctor or specially trained nurse.”

Recent data from Cancer Council Victoria’s Victorian Cancer Registry shows women living outside of major cities in Victoria are 28 per cent more likely to be diagnosed with cervical cancer compared to those living in major cities.

“It’s so important that everyone who is eligible for cervical screening knows when to screen and what their testing options are so that they have the best chance of protecting themselves against cervical cancer,” Cancer Council Victoria head of screening early detection and immunisation Kate Broun said.

“If you haven’t done a Cervical Screening Test in a while, check in with your doctor to see if you’re due and discuss your testing options, including self-collection.

“This one test really could save your life.”

To find out more about cervical screening, head to cancervic.org.au/cervical