WELLINGTON COUNTY – In partnership with other health-care providers, the Waterloo Wellington Regional Cancer Program (WWRCP), at Grand River Regional Cancer Centre, is leading the way to improve cervical cancer screening in the region.
Starting March 3, cervical screening providers, such as family doctors, nurse practitioners, and midwives will be offering the human papillomavirus (HPV) test to replace the Pap test as the new primary cervical cancer screening method. Launched provincially, this new HPV-based test leads to early detection, preventing long term impacts of cervical cancer.
The Ontario Cervical Screening program detects high-risk cancer-causing HPV in the cervix so that patients can have early intervention before a disease progresses.
The virus can also lead to warts and other types of cancers including throat, anal, penile, vaginal, and vulvar.
It is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) and can be detected early with the right testing procedures to identify infections and check for cervical cell changes that can lead to cancer.
“HPV testing is crucial because it helps identify potential risks before they develop into serious health issues,” says Jane Martin, regional vice president, Waterloo Wellington Regional Cancer Program. “Early detection gives us the power to take proactive steps, reducing the chances of complications and protecting the future well-being and health outcomes for people. And because it also detects potential cervical abnormalities early, individuals can receive timely and actionable care at the right time and place.”
Whereas the Pap test detects abnormal or pre-cancerous cells on the cervix, it doesn’t detect the virus itself.
The HPV test detects the presence of the human papillomavirus (HPV) in the cervical cells. Certain strains of HPV, especially types 16 and 18, are linked to a higher risk of developing cervical cancer.
The HPV test can identify if a person is infected with these high-risk strains, even before any abnormal cell changes occur.
“HPV testing is better at detecting cervical pre-cancer, reducing unnecessary referrals for cervical testing, and enabling safer, earlier, and more appropriate discharge from colposcopy,” says Dr. Neil Naik, regional primary care lead for the Waterloo Wellington Regional Cancer Program.
“The test is fairly quick and causes minimal discomfort. Completed by your family doctor, nurse practitioner, or midwife, a small, soft brush is used to collect cervical cells for lab testing.”
Those interested can get an HPV test by booking an appointment with a family doctor, nurse practitioner or midwife.
If you don’t have one, you can find a clinic through Health811 by searching online, calling 811, or using the Health811 live chat.
HPV testing is recommended for individuals with a cervix who are at least 25 years old, have ever been sexually active, and have no symptoms of cervical cancer.
While the HPV vaccine protects against the most common cancer-causing strains, HPV testing is still recommended, especially for individuals with no symptoms to detect early exposure.
