An end to cervical cancer
is within our sight

Cervical cancer is a highly preventable and curable disease - everyone should have access to the necessary prevention, screening and treatment that save lives.

Fast facts

Nearly 600,000 new cervical cancer cases are diagnosed every year
Every one minute, a woman is diagnosed with cervical cancer
Devastatingly, over 300,000 women each year die from cervical cancer
Globally, every two minutes, a woman dies from cervical cancer
Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in women in over 40 countries
Around 90% of all cervical cancer deaths occur in low- to middle-income countries

Eliminating cervical cancer

Today, we have the real opportunity, know-how and ability to save tens of millions of lives from cervical cancer - one of the most highly preventable and curable forms of cancer.

Yet the reality is that a woman is more likely to die from cervical cancer simply because of her economic status and where she lives. Effective cervical cancer prevention, screening and management are available, but not to all.

We can no longer ignore cervical cancer as a global health issue nor can we continue to overlook the unnecessary deaths that arise from socioeconomic disparities and stigma. To tolerate these systemic inequities would be one of the most grievous offences against the fundamental rights of all girls and women.

No woman should die from cervical cancer. Ever.

"A disease that now stands as one of the world's greatest public health failures can be eliminated."

Global strategy towards eliminating cervical cancer as a public health problem

World Health Organization (WHO)

By eliminating cervical cancer, we will save millions of lives in countries most affected by the disease over the course of the next century¹. This means economies, communities and families will no longer be held back, but will have the chance to thrive.

All women - no matter where they live, their income, their race, or their level of education - will be given the opportunity to lead healthier lives and rise to their potential.

^{1. The Lancet}

With the global commitment to eliminate cervical cancer made in 2020, world leaders have set us on a path to elimination². However, this bold vision cannot be achieved by half-measures. Today, we need the full commitment to national action and success.

There is a way. Now, we rely on the will of governments, communities and individuals to seize this chance and change the course of history.

Together, let’s make history by making cervical cancer history.
#WorldCancerDay #CloseTheCareGap

^{2. World Heath Organisation}

Cervical Cancer Elimination
Information Guide

In English

What’s at stake: a disease driven by inequities

Around the world, a woman dies from cervical cancer every two minutes. Without action, cervical cancer deaths will almost certainly rise a further 50% by 2030.

Nine out of 10 deaths occur in low and lower-middle-income countries.

In high income countries, girls have the opportunity to be vaccinated against the human papillomavirus (HPV) and women are screened regularly and treated early for any pre-cancerous lesions – two important preventive measures of cervical cancer.

As a result, up to 80% of cervical cancers can be prevented.

In contrast, there is limited access to prevention and early detection in low- to middle-income countries. However, even with screening programmes in place, 55% of low-income countries lack access to radiotherapy and surgery services, which are critical in treating cervical cancer successfully¹.

Clear inequities also exist within countries, driven by gender discrimination and poverty. In addition, women and girls living in remote areas, as well as refugees, migrants, indigenous populations and other vulnerable groups face considerable barriers to accessing healthcare services.

We must ensure the same lifesaving services are available to all girls and women.

^{1. World Health Organization}

Cervical Cancer Elimination
Infographics

Download

An opportunity for all governments

World leaders made a global commitment to eliminate cervical cancer. To fulfil this promise, international and local leaders must accelerate action to achieve national elimination.

Reaching and sustaining the goal of elimination has wide-reaching impact. By addressing cervical cancer, countries also address critical issues of:

Poverty
Gender inequality
Universal health coverage, including providing financial risk protection as well as universal access to essential healthcare services.

A chance for everyone

To help eliminate cervical cancer, we need action by everyone, including community, business and religious leaders, healthcare professionals, teachers, education providers, families and individuals.

Get informed: Knowing more about cervical cancer – its risk factors, signs and symptoms and common misconceptions – can empower you and your family to prevent and detect it early. And by learning more about your own country’s response to cervical cancer and the cervical cancer health services available to women and girls in your country, you can better campaign to eliminate cervical cancer.
Act: Encourage prevention, screening and treatment among women and girls in your family and community, talk to your healthcare provider, attend cervical cancer screenings, and if appropriate, get vaccinated.
Campaign: Contact your local government leaders and petition for accelerated action in your country, raise awareness among your community and social media networks, fundraise and donate to your national or local cervical cancer organisation or group.

Preventing cervical cancer

Cervical cancer is one of the most highly preventable and curable forms of cancer.

Vaccination: Vaccines protecting against cancer-causing types of HPV are available and have been shown to be effective in reducing HPV infections and pre-cancer of the cervix¹. HPV vaccines are highly effective in young people who respond well to the vaccine and when given before exposure to HPV. In December 2022, the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) recommended a single-dose schedule for HPV vaccination that represents an opportunity to overcome some key challenges in increasing access and coverage in many settings.
Screening: Screening involves testing for HPV-infection and examining a sample of cervical cells for abnormalities and for pre-cancers (early but visible changes in the cells, before they become cancer). The World Health Organization recommends regular HPV DNA detection as the primary screening test in women aged 30 and above, and the availability of HPV self-sampling as an additional screening approach. Screening should start earlier at age 25 for some populations, including women living with HIV.

^{1. HPV Vaccine: How effective is the HPV vaccine?}

Detecting cervical cancer

Cervical cancer is often curable if detected early.

Cervical cancer can take many years to develop. Before it does, the cervix cells often show changes which gives us the opportunity to check and treat these changes before they have the chance to progress into cervical cancer.

Like many cancers, the earlier cervical cancer is detected, the higher the chances are of survival. For example, in the US, the five-year survival rate for women diagnosed with cervical cancer at an advanced stage is 15%, compared with 93% if diagnosed when the cancer has not spread¹. This holds true in lower income settings as well. In India, a study among rural women with cervical cancer found the five-year survival rate to be 9% when diagnosed at Stage IV, which soars to 78% when diagnosed earlier at Stage I².

^{1. American Cancer Society: Cervical Cancer Survival Rates
2. JCGO: Survival of Patients With Cervical Cancer in Rural India}

Treating cervical cancer

When cervical cancer is detected, there are a number of treatment options¹.

Early stage cervical cancer: When detected and diagnosed early, cervical cancer is usually treated through surgery or in some cases with radiotherapy or a combination of both.

Advanced cervical cancer: When cervical cancer has developed further, radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy is often used to treat the cancer. In some cases, surgery may also be recommended.
In some cases, treatments can have lasting impact, including removal of the womb, premature menopause and infertility.

Palliating cervical cancer: When cervical cancer cannot be cured, there are ways to slow its progression, relieve pain and extend and improve quality of life.

^{1. National Health Service: Cervical Cancer Treatment}

Find out more about cervical cancer

What is cervical cancer?

Cervical cancer is a type of cancer that develops in the cervix – the narrow, lower end of the uterus (womb), forming the opening from the uterus to the vagina. The vast majority of cervical cancer cases is caused by different types of the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is thought to cause the cervical cells to grow uncontrollably and develop into cancerous cells.

^{Source: Mayo Clinic - Cervical Cancer Symptoms and Causes}

What is the human papillomavirus (HPV)?

HPV is a group of viruses which have more than 100 types. Most of them are harmless, however at least 14 types are known to be cancer-causing, including types 16 and 18 which causes 70% of cervical cancers and pre-cancerous cervical lesions.

Evidence also links HPV with cancers of the anus, vulva, vagina, penis and oropharynx.

^{Source: World Health Organization - Human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer}

How do I get HPV?

HPV is a very common virus. It is transmitted through any type of sexual contact with a man or a woman. Both men and women can be infected by HPV.

What if I have HPV?

In most cases, HPV infection is harmless, shows no symptoms and will pass without the need for intervention. However, in rare cases the infection can persist and may progress to cancer.

^{Source: Human papillomavirus: often harmless but in some cases carcinogenic. Prescrire Int. 2007;16(89):115-119.}

What are the risk factors of cervical cancer?

Additional risk factors include

Smoking: women who smoke have double the likelihood of developing cervical cancer
A weakened immune system: women who have a compromised immune system, including those living with HIV, are more likely to have persistent HPV infections and a more rapid progression to pre-cancer and cancer.
Having more than five children, or having them at an early age (under 17 years of age)

^Sources:
^{NHS: Cervical Cancer Causes}
^{World Heath Organization: Human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer}

What are the signs and symptoms of cervical cancer?

Cervical cancer in its early stages may not offer any signs or symptoms. However, a healthcare professional should be consulted if any of the following signs or symptoms are present and persistent:

Unusual vaginal bleeding after sex, between period cycles and/or post-menopause
Unusual pain or discomfort during sex
Severer vaginal discharge that is bloody, watery with an unpleasant odour
Lower back and/or pelvic pain

^{Source: Mayo Clinic - Cervical Cancer Symptoms and Causes}

Achieving elimination within generations

In 2020, the World Health Organization approved a strategy aimed at eliminating cervical cancer worldwide and within generations.

Triple intervention

No one intervention alone will be enough. The strategy requires accelerated action in prevention, screening and cancer management.

What does “elimination” mean?

Cervical cancer would no longer be considered to be a public health problem when all countries reach an annual incidence rate of 4 cases of cervical cancer per 100,000 women or less¹.

^{1. World Health Organization}

The global targets (90:70:90)

The strategy sets out three targets to be achieved by all countries by 2030:

90% coverage of HPV vaccination of girls (by 15 years of age)
70% coverage of screening with a high-performance HPV test (between the ages of 35 and 45 years) and 90% treatment of precancerous lesions
Management of 90% of invasive cancer cases¹.

There is still much progress to be made to achieve these global targets. Currently, only 3% of countries globally have achieved 90% coverage of HPV Vaccination, while 12% of countries have achieved 70% screening coverage². However, with commitment and accelerated action, this ambition can be achieved within the next decade.

^{1. World Health Organization: A Global Strategy for elimination of cervical cancer}
^{2. World Health Organization: Cancer Regional Profile 2020}

Dispelling common misconceptions

HPV vaccines are not a cure or treatment

HPV vaccines are not a vaccination against cervical cancer, nor can it treat or cure cervical cancer. What it does is protect against HPV, reducing the risk of being infected by HPV – one of the major causes of cervical cancer.

HPV vaccination is effective for both boys and girls

Some countries have started to vaccinate boys as the vaccination prevents several types of cancers in males as well as females. However, the World Health Organization recommends prioritising vaccination for girls aged between 9 and 14 years, as this is the most cost-effective public health measure against cervical cancer. HPV vaccination is also effective against 6 other types of cancers affecting men and women.

Screening is necessary even if you have been vaccinated against HPV

HPV vaccination does not replace cervical cancer screening. Screening helps to detect changes and abnormalities in the cervix cells which may lead to cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer can be treated

There are many treatment options for cervical cancer, including surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Treatment can be highly effective especially when cervical cancer is caught early.

HIV and HPV are the not the same

HIV and HPV are not the same virus. However, HIV and cervical cancer are strongly inter-linked. Women with HIV are up to five times more likely to develop cervical cancer – and more likely to develop it at a younger age.

^{Source: World Health Organization: Cervical Cancer Elimination Draft Strategy}

HPV vaccines safe and effective

Studies on HPV vaccines have shown them to be “extremely safe”, to work and to offer long lasting protection. They are no available evidence or data that links HPV vaccines to infertility or any other serious adverse reactions.

^{Sources:
World Health Organization: Global Vaccine Safety December 2019}
^{World Health Organization: Global Vaccine Safety June 2017}

^{World Health Organization: Recommendations on HPV vaccination December 2022}

Race and ethnicity alone do not influence the likelihood of developing cervical cancer

Women of a particular race or ethnicity do not have a higher or lower risk of developing cervical cancer. However, disparities and inequities in accessing prevention and appropriate treatment may lead to a greater prevalence of, and mortality from cervical cancer in a particular racial group.

Cervical cancer is not just a women’s issue

Both men and women can be infected by HPV. As men are carriers of HPV, they have an important role in prevention, and an even more critical role in cultures and countries where they have strong influence in the decision-making around their partner’s health, including offering financial support and encouraging partners to get screened or seek treatment.

^{Source: BMC Women's Health: Men's Knowledge and attitudes about cervical cancer screening in Kenya}

How the world is eliminating cervical cancer on World Cancer Day

Leaders convene in Toronto for first Cervical Cancer Summit

On the 4th of February, the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer hosted the Elimination of Cervical Cancer Summit in Toronto. The Summit brought together key stakeholders in government and health, as well as patients, women’s health advocacy groups and First Nations, Inuit and Métis leaders, to discuss the National Action Plan to Eliminate Cervical Cancer in Canada and to ultimately achieve a shared vision of eliminating the disease by 2040.

A press conference to brief journalists

To mark World Cancer Day, the Cancer Foundation of India in collaboration with the Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health and the American Cancer Society hosted an exclusive webinar for over 70 health journalists from regional news outlets across India. Dr. Neerja Bhatla, All India Institute of Medical Sciences’ professor in Obstetrics and Gynecology, as well as government representatives, presented information and responded to journalist questions on cervical cancer and the Human papillomavirus vaccination.

Guatemalan Ministry of Health raises awareness of the HPV vaccine

The Ministry of Health held an event at a school for girls between 10 and 14 years old in an effort to raise awareness and inform young girls of the importance of being vaccinated against cervical cancer. It was also an opportunity to encourage girls to share testimonials to aid in motivating more girls to get vaccinated.