Cervical Cancer to Disappear in 50 years?
September 25, 2009 by Peggy Rowland
Filed under Women's Health
Since cervical cancer is caused by human papilloma virus (HPV), some researchers say that implementing national screening programs to detect HPV and vaccinating against it, may make cervical cancer a thing of the past.
In Berlin yesterday, Professor Jack Cuzick of Cancer Research UK told Europe’s largest cancer congress that HPV is “responsible for all cervix cancer.” He says that while the current vaccine only protects against two strains of the virus, soon there will be a vaccine that works against all nine strains. The more effective vaccine, combined with HPV testing, which is more sensitive than the Pap smear, could lead to the demise of cervical cancer, Cuzick said.
Prof Cuzick argues that since HPV screening is more effective, it could be done less frequently, streamlining the process. Regarding HPV testing instead of the Pap smear, Cuzik said, “… it’s also been shown that the protection lasts longer so that screening every five to seven years is probably appropriate.”
How do you feel about more accurate, but less frequent testing for cervical cancer?
(Image via stock.xchng)
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