The Australian Centre for the Prevention of Cervical Cancer (ACPCC) is pleased to announce the launch of a campaign run in collaboration with Cancer Council Victoria to increase awareness of healthcare practitioners about HPV self-collection. HPV self-collection was introduced to the National Cervical Screening Program in 2017, however there is limited awareness and uptake of this option amongst healthcare practitioners and the community.
Self-collection allows eligible screening participants to take their own vaginal sample for HPV testing using a small, soft swab (similar to the ones used to collect a COVID test). For those who have never screened, research shows that taking part in self-collection could reduce the risk of developing cervical cancer by around 40% (Smith et al. 2016).
It is an equally reliable and highly acceptable alternative to a clinician-collected cervical screening test (CST) and is an important tool to increase cervical screening participation amongst under-screened and never screened groups, such as those living in regional and remote areas, those that are culturally and linguistically diverse, and LGBTQ+ communities.
Offering HPV self-collection in your practice will help more women and people with a cervix to be screened for cervical cancer, preventing devastating diagnoses and saving lives.
The Self-Collection Saves Lives campaign is aimed at health practitioners including GPs, nurses and antenatal health professionals, with a focus on regional Victoria.
Please check out the campaign toolkit here and access newly developed consumer resources from Cancer Council Victoria here.
Disclaimer: This article was provided by VCS Pathology. While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate, North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network does not warrant or represent the accuracy, currency and completeness of any information or material included within.
