Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most widely spread sexually transmitted infection. There are more than 150 different genotypes of HPV, and some are considered high-risk for cervical cancer.[1]
Of the many types of cancer that plague our planet, cervical cancer is one of the few that is nearly 100% preventable. The tools are in place to eliminate this disease. Current estimates indicate that 1,600 individuals with a cervix will be diagnosed with cervical cancer in Canada in 2024, and 400 will die from the disease.[2]
Despite advances in science, barriers still exist that prevent some individuals from ever being screened. Among them: limited access to healthcare, past experiences, distrust, and cultural influences.
Cervix screening with HPV self-collection is an innovative option to help reduce these barriers by offering an alternative to clinician-collected samples and Roche Canada is proud to be the first to obtain Health Canada approval for the claim “HPV Self-Collection” for Roche’s cobas® HPV test.
Putting control where it belongs
This innovation allows individuals to collect their own vaginal sample with a swab that has been clinically validated for use in combination with the HPV test.
HPV can be transmitted through sexual contact, with or without intercourse, and with or without condom use. Almost all cases of cervical cancer are caused by HPV, as persistent infection with certain types of the virus can lead to cervical pre-cancer or cancer. HPV screening can help determine which infections are more likely to lead to cancer, to catch disease early.
Studies show that this method is not only widely accepted by individuals, but is oftentimes preferred.[3] The HPV test performance is comparable to a clinician-collected cervical sample, which some underscreened individuals may be uncomfortable with.[4]
Levelling the playing field
“Self-collection offers an effective and flexible option to help individuals overcome barriers to cervical cancer screening,” said Michele D’Elia, Executive Director of Medical, Access and Policy at Roche Diagnostics. “We have the opportunity to decrease cervical cancer incidence and work towards meeting the World Health Organization (WHO) and Canadian Partnership Against Cancer (CPAC) goals for cervical cancer elimination. This can only be achieved by replacing the Pap test with HPV testing as part of primary screening programs, and including the option of self-collection to reduce the barriers to screening for all people with a cervix.”Some barriers include: a history of trauma or cultural barriers to screening, which may prevent them from being screened.
More about cervical cancer
Cervical cancer incidence increased by an average of 3.7% per year from 2015 to 2019, marking the first significant increase in incidence since 1984. It is now the fastest-increasing cancer among women.[5]
No one with a cervix should die from cervical cancer as there are tools in place to prevent cervical cancer such as: vaccination, cervical screening, and effective treatment options. The benefits of these tools are immense and can save countless lives.
About the cobas® HPV test
Roche’s cobas® HPV test is designed to identify women at risk for cervical cancer by detecting the presence of high-risk HPV DNA in cervical cells. The goal of cervical cancer screening using the cobas® HPV test is to find and treat precancerous lesions early to help stop the progression of the disease. Thanks to this claim approved by Health Canada, individuals can privately collect a vaginal sample for HPV screening following the instructions of a healthcare worker.
For more information on how to get screened for cervical cancer, please contact your Healthcare Provider or reach out to a lab for more information (availability may vary by province).
Links to relevant pages:
https://www.rochecanada.com/media/roche-canada-announces-the-first--hpv-self-collection-solution
References
https://cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/reduce-your-risk/get-vaccinated/human-papillomavirus-hpv
https://cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-types/cervical/statistics and https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.240095
Nelson, E. J., Maynard, B. R., Loux, T., Fatla, J., Gordon, R., & Arnold, L. D. (2017). The acceptability of self-sampled screening for HPV DNA: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sexually Transmitted Infections, 93, 56.
Zhu, P., Tatar, O. et al. Assessing Canadian women's preferences for cervical cancer screening: A brief report. Frontiers in Public Health. 27 July 2022; v 10-2022.
Canadian Cancer Society. Canadian Cancer Statistics. https://cancer.ca/en/research/cancer-statistics/canadian-cancer-statistics. Accessed 6 Jun 2024.
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