More cases of cervical cancer detected too late: Canadian Cancer Society

(Katrine Desautels/ The Canadian Press) — The latest Canadian data show that cervical cancer is now the fastest-growing cancer among women. Screening remains the best way to prevent this cancer, which is avoidable when detected at the pre-cancerous stage.

After declining for three decades, the incidence of cervical cancer increased by 3.7 per cent per year between 2015 and 2019, according to the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS). This is the first significant increase since 1984.

The CCS estimates that 1,600 Canadian women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer in a year, and 400 will die from it. “They are often found too late,” says gynecologist Dr. Céline Bouchard.

“There are more and more cases, and the cases are more advanced,” she observes. And it’s a pity when you know that when it’s precancerous, it’s easily cured and treated.”

With vaccination and screening, it would be possible to virtually eradicate cervical cancer. (…)