Cervical cancer rates in Canada have levelled off after years of decline, despite the country’s objective to eradicate the disease by 2040, a new report suggests.
Cervical cancer rates had been on a steady decline from 1984 until 2005, but the report published by the Canadian Cancer Society indicates “a concerning plateau” over the past two decades. The shift means the country is no longer advancing in its efforts to eliminate the disease, the report says.
An estimated 1,650 Canadians will be diagnosed with cervical cancer this year and 430 will lose their battle with a disease that can be prevented, the report says. It suggests the trend is driven by increased transmission of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection known to cause cervical cancer as well as lower vaccination and screening rates, and gaps in follow-up care….