Cervical cancer ranks as the fourth most common cancer among women worldwide. Nearly all cases are caused by high-risk strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV), a common virus transmitted through sexual contact.
While most HPV strains are harmless, some high-risk types can infect cervical cells, leading to cellular changes that may result in cancer. High-risk HPV strains can also increase the risk of other cancers, such as those of the throat and mouth.
The first HPV vaccine was approved in the United States in 2006 for girls aged 9-26i, with the UK following suit by introducing a routine HPV vaccination programme in 2008ii. Today's vaccines are highly effective and, when combined with screening programmes, are nearly 100% effective at preventing cervical cancer. In the UK, we are on the verge of seeing a generation that is fully protected against cervical cancer.
Despite these advances, in 2022, a staggering 94% of all cervical cancer deaths occurred in low- and middle-income countries. This highlights the significant global disparities in access to vaccination, cervical screening, and treatment.
WHO Global Strategy
In 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched the "Global Strategy to Accelerate the Elimination of Cervical Cancer as a Public Health Problem." This initiative aims to address the global disparities highlighted by the prevalence of cervical cancer. It is the first WHO global strategy focused on the elimination of a non-communicable disease.
The strategy is summarised by the "90-70-90" targets:
Vaccination: Ensure 90% of girls are fully vaccinated with the HPV vaccine by age 15.
Screening: Ensure 70% of women are screened using a high-performance test by age 35, and again by age 45.
Treatment: Ensure 90% of women with pre-cancer receive treatment, and 90% of women with invasive cancer are properly managed.
By achieving these targets by 2030, it is predicted that we could see global elimination of cervical cancer within the next century. Specifically, the WHO aims to reduce the incidence of cervical cancer to fewer than 4 cases per 100,000 women-yearsiii. It is projected that by 2030, the cumulative number of cervical cancer deaths averted will be 300,000. This will rise to over 62 million by 2120.
