Can cervical cancer be eliminanted?

Can Cervical Cancer Be Eliminated?

📌 What the iChhori Article (Mar 2022) Covers

• Questions whether cervical cancer can be eradicated globally.
• Mentions the role of HPV vaccination and Pap smear screening.

🧬 Evidence-Based Medical Insights

• The World Health Organization (WHO) set ambitious **90‑70‑90 targets** for 2030:
  • 90% of girls fully vaccinated against HPV by age 15
  • 70% of women screened with high-performance tests by ages 35 and 45
  • 90% of women with diagnosed cervical disease appropriately treated
  :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
• Meeting these targets could reduce incidence by ~42% by 2045 and ~97% by 2120 globally, preventing ~62 million deaths over the next century :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}.
• WHO defines elimination as reaching <4 cases per 100,000 women per year—a feasible goal within the lifetime of today’s youngest girls :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}.
• Australia is on track to become the first to reach elimination by ~2035 through high vaccination and screening coverage :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}.
• Global roll-out is expanding: 140 countries now include HPV vaccination; however, coverage remains around 21% as of 2022 :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}.

✅ Practical Path to Elimination

• 🏥 **HPV vaccination**: Vaccinate all girls (and boys ideally) before sexual debut and catch up missed doses up to older ages :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}.
• 🔬 **Screening**: Use high-performance HPV tests or Pap smears at ages 35 & 45; self-sampling improves access :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}.
• 🩺 **Timely treatment**: Treat 90% of precancerous and cancers early through accessible services :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}.
• 🌍 **Global commitment**: Strengthen health infrastructure, reduce inequities, and fund public awareness :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}.

🔎 Summary

Cervical cancer is one of the few cancers that is largely **preventable and treatable**. With coordinated global efforts—widespread HPV vaccination, effective screening, and access to treatment—it is feasible to **eliminate** cervical cancer as a public health problem (<4 cases/100,000 women per year) within a generation.

Countries like Australia are leading the way, and WHO targets provide a clear roadmap. It’s a global commitment, not a distant hope—it’s achievable, equitable, and urgent.