During National Cervical Cancer Awareness Week (November 7-13), Cancer Council Victoria, together with the Australian Centre for the Prevention of Cervical Cancer, is calling on the Victorian community to spread the word about the self-collection option to increase participation in cervical screening.
A cervical screening test (previously known as the pap test) is the best way to prevent cervical cancer.
The test needs to be done every five years by all women and people with a cervix aged 25-74 who are eligible for cervical screening.
Yet, screening data from 2018-2021 estimated only 62 per cent of Victorian women and people with a cervix participated in the National Cervical Screening Program during this period.
The self-collection option became universally available in Australia on July 1 for people eligible for cervical screening and allows people to collect their own vaginal sample using a swab.
The test is quick, easy, private and just as reliable as a sample collected by a healthcare professional from the cervix using a speculum.
New Cancer Council Victoria research, which surveyed over 700 Victorian women and people with a cervix, found almost three quarters of respondents who had never screened or were not up to date with screening, stated they were likely to choose the self-collection option for their next cervical screening test.
Respondents who indicated they would prefer to self-collect would do so because it is private, easy to do and removed personal barriers to getting a Cervical Screening Test. However, while self-collection may be the key to getting more people to do the test, only 9.7 per cent of respondents had ever previously heard of it.
Kate Broun, Head of Screening, Early Detection and Immunisation at Cancer Council Victoria, said that while many health advocates knew about self-collection, more needed to be done to ensure the entire Victorian community knew about this option.
“Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers and early diagnosis through screening greatly improves the chances of treatment being successful, but many people put off their cervical screening test or avoid it altogether because they find it uncomfortable, embarrassing or face other barriers to doing the test,” Ms Broun said.
Ms Broun said there were some groups in Victoria who faced additional barriers to screening. These include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, those living regionally, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, LGBTIQ+ people and people living with a disability.
“No matter where you live, or what community you are a part of, everyone deserves to be protected from cervical cancer. It’s so important that we spread the word about self-collection to ensure everyone knows their options for cervical screening,” Ms Broun said.
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