Cancer Council said more people can now self collect for screening

Conducted by Cancer Council Victoria, the survey found that only 15 per cent of respondents had heard about self-collection as a possible option to screen for cervical cancer.

With data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare showing that and people with cervix aged 25 to 74 in the Grampians region are up to date with cervical screening, many in the local area are eligible to self-collect today.

The PR campaign funded by the Victorian Government and in partnership with the Australian Centre for the Prevention of Cervical Cancer aims to raise awareness of self-collection as a reliable method for detecting HPV, which causes almost all cervical cancers, among eligible women and people with a cervix across Victoria.

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Currently self-collection is available to those women and people with a cervix who are aged over 30; are overdue for a Cervical Screening Test by two years or more or have never been screened; and do not have symptoms, however many of those who are eligible are not aware this option is available to them.

With 47 per cent of Victorians overdue for cervical screening, thousands of women and people with a cervix can access self-collection today.

The test is done with the individual collecting their own vaginal sample with a swab (similar to the ones used for COVID tests) at the GP clinic or other healthcare setting, usually behind a private screen or in the bathroom.

Screening Program Manager at Cancer Council Victoria, Kate Broun, said with universal access to self-screening currently under consideration by government, she hoped today's campaign would provide some important new information for those who may have put off cervical screening.

"More than 70 per cent of cervical cancers occur in women and people with a cervix who have never screened or who have lapsed in screening. We know that many, particularly from priority communities, face a range of barriers to accessing screening. Self-collection provides an opportunity to address these barriers. 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 per cent", Ms Broun said.

"The test is free, easy to do yourself and reliable. We are urging Victorians to take advantage of this opportunity to prevent cervical cancer and protect their future. If you think you could be eligible for self-collection, don't wait until July next year, speak to your GP or nurse today."

Despite the option for self-collection being available to under or never screened women and people with a cervix since 2017, uptake in Victoria remains low with only 1067 self-collected tests performed by April 2019.

The campaign includes social media as well as engagement with health professionals and works towards achieving the Victorian Government's target of encouraging an additional 10,000 under-screened women and people with a cervix to screen through the self-collection pathway, as identified in the Victorian Cancer Plan 2020-2024.

For more information about the cervical screening campaign visit www.cancervic.org.au/selfcollection

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