Canada has an ambitious goal – to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040. But new data show that, after years of steady progress, rates are no longer decreasing. This puts Canada’s goal at risk. With cervical cancer at a turning point, it’s more important than ever to invest in research to help stop this cancer before it starts.
Virtually all cervical cancer cases are due to human papillomavirus (HPV). This virus is spread by sexual contact including intercourse, genital skin-to-skin contact and oral sex. Some people’s immune systems clear HPV naturally after exposure. In others, the virus stays in the body, increasing the risk of cervical and other cancers.
Why does HPV go away in some people but not others? That’s the puzzle Dr Ruth Mwatelah at McGill University is working to solve.
Bacteria: partners in prevention
With support from the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) Research Training Awards, Dr Mwatelah studies the bacteria that naturally live in our genital areas. So far, she has looked at over 3,000 samples donated by couples to learn which bacteria are present and what they do.
Her research has identified “good” bacteria that may help the body fight off HPV.
“I was so excited to attach a name tag to the bacteria that I found in the samples,” she says. “I was able to define good and bad bacteria, and I am excited to see if there are changes that occur between these two groups.”
Dr Mwatelah’s early results show that these changes may affect how well the body can resist or clear HPV infection.
“I have found that people who have the bad bacteria in their reproductive system are more likely to test positive for certain groups of HPV infections during their next visit,” she says. If doctors can identify people at risk of cervical cancer, they can take steps to prevent it.
The importance of regular screening
Dr Mwatelah’s research could help prevent HPV-related cancers before they start. But until we know more, CCS recommends that people with a cervix who have ever had sexual contact with anyone should begin regular cervical cancer screenings by the time they’re 25.
Depending on where you live in Canada, the test used when screening for cervical cancer might be a Pap test or an HPV test. Both tests can help spot cervical cancer early.
This was the case for Linda, an Ancaster, Ontario resident whose routine Pap test revealed early-stage cervical cancer. “Early diagnosis and treatment are absolutely critical,” she says. “The sooner one is diagnosed, the better, as treatments have a higher chance of being successful.”
After surgery, Linda has been cancer-free for 24 years. She now encourages people to get regular screenings for cervical cancer. To check your eligibility or schedule a screening, speak to your doctor or health service.
CCS also recommends that children and adults between the ages of 9 and 45 are vaccinated against HPV as early as possible to reduce their risk of HPV-related cancers. With strong research and prevention efforts, Canada’s cervical cancer elimination goal may still be within reach.
The sooner one is diagnosed, the better, as treatments have a higher chance of being successful.