Cervical cancer develops in a woman’s cervix (the entrance to the uterus from the vagina). Almost all cervical cancer cases (99%) are linked to infection with high-risk human papillomaviruses (HPV), an extremely common virus transmitted through sexual contact.
Although most infections with HPV resolve spontaneously and cause no symptoms, persistent infection can cause cervical cancer in women.
Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women. In 2018, an estimated 570 000 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer worldwide and about 311 000 women died from the disease. Effective primary (HPV vaccination) and secondary prevention approaches (screening for, and treating precancerous lesions) will prevent most cervical cancer cases.
When diagnosed, cervical cancer is one of the most successfully treatable forms of cancer, as long as it is detected early and managed effectively. Cancers diagnosed in late stages can also be controlled with appropriate treatment and palliative care. With a comprehensive approach to prevent, screen and treat, cervical cancer can be eliminated as a public health problem within a generation.
Eliminating cervical cancer
Cervical cancer is a disease that can be eliminated with the right tools and approaches, and no woman should have to die from it. Unfortunately, the burden of the disease is highest among women in low- and middle-income countries who lack access to healthcare services.
To address this issue, in May 2018, the Director-General of the World Health Organization issued a global call to action to eliminate cervical cancer, which was met with renewed political will and support from all stakeholders.
To further this effort, in January 2019, the Executive Board requested the development of a global strategy with clear targets for the period of 2020-2030. The resulting Global Strategy towards the Elimination of Cervical Cancer as a Public Health Problem outlines key goals and targets to be achieved by 2030, developed in close consultation with Member States, UN Agencies, and other partners. The implementation of this strategy can set the world on a path towards the elimination of cervical cancer.
Global strategy to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem
A world where cervical cancer is no longer a public health issue is the ultimate goal. This will be achieved by meeting certain targets, such as a threshold of 4 per 100,000 women-years. To be on the path towards cervical cancer elimination, countries must meet the 90-70-90 targets by 2030. These targets include vaccinating 90% of girls with the HPV vaccine by age 15, screening 70% of women with a high-performance test by ages 35 and 45, and treating 90% of women identified with cervical disease. Meeting these targets will result in significant benefits. A mathematical model predicts that, by 2045, the median cervical cancer incidence rate will decrease by 42% in low- and lower-middle-income countries, and by 97% by 2120, preventing over 74 million new cases. Additionally, the median cumulative number of cervical cancer deaths averted will be 300,000 by 2030, over 14 million by 2070, and over 62 million by 2120.
