After decreasing for three decades, the incidence of cervical cancer increased 3.7 % per year between 2015 and 2019, according to the Canadian Cancer Society (SCC). This is the first increase in importance since 1984.
The SCC estimates that 1600 Canadians will receive a diagnosis of cervical cancer in a year and that 400 will die. “They are often found too late,” deplores the gynecologist Céline Bouchard.
“There are more and more cases and the cases are more advanced,” she notes. And it’s a shame when you know it is cured when it’s a pre -speaking, it is easy. “
With vaccination and screening, it would be possible to practically eradicate cervical cancer.
He is the third important cancer in women aged 40 to 44, said the gynecologist. “It’s a shame because it’s the only cancer that warns. The others, they do not warn, ”she stresses, adding that it is still possible to act on risk factors such as smoking for other cancers.
To see too | Cardio-oncology to prevent … and heal better
In addition, the costs for society also increase when it is detected too late, among other things for radiotherapy, chemotherapy and invasive surgeries.
Several factors can explain the increase in cases of cervical cancer, according to Dre Bouchard. First of all because many Quebecers do not have access to a family doctor who will follow up on the frequency of screening.
Also, there is no register. “Women do not receive a letter as for breast cancer,” laments Dre Bouchard. Gynecologists have been asking the ministry for 40 years [de la Santé] to make a patient register and send letters. How do you want people to remember when they had their screening test when it is going to be five years old? Already at the three years, they do not remember about it ever. It’s not easy to remember all of this. “
Unlike the PAP Test, which must be carried out for two or three years, the new HPV test will be carried out every five years.
-Abandonment of the too slow pap
In May 2022, the Minister of Health and Social Services, Christian Dubé, announced that the HPV test would be implemented as primary cervical cancer test according to the recommendations of the Inesss.
The HPV test is much more precise than the PAP Test, underlines Dre Bouchard. It is relatively the same procedure for the patient, that is to say that the gynecologist goes on the cervix with an instrument to collect cells.
With the HPV test, the sample is put in a liquid that will be analyzed. If the test is positive, the same direct debit can be used for the cell monitoring exam.
This makes it possible to detect the presence of high -risk HPVs which can lead to the development of precancerous lesions and if they are not treated, lead to cervical cancer.
According to the website of the Ministry of Health, Bas-Saint-Laurent, Gaspésie, Chaudière-Appalaches and Lanaudière are the only regions to offer the HPV test.
“The minister told us that in 2022 that was transferred [au test] HPV, but at present there are only four regions that have converted to [test] VPH. These are the least populated regions, ”deplores Dre Bouchard.
With the HPV test, “we do not lose cases which would be positive and which would not be detected [avec le Pap test]And it can detect 14 precancerous types. “This is the best test to have,” said the Doctor.
In June 2024, the Ministry of Health said in a written response to the Canadian press that the objective is always to replace the PAP test with the HPV test in all regions of Quebec by 2026.
He gave as an explanation to the deployment period that the new test requires the acquisition and installation of specific equipment.
Related News :