Cervical Cancer Screening: Why Getting Tested Saves Lives

COLLEEN GREEN The Standard

Cervical cancer remains one of the most preventable cancers today, yet, too many people in Ontario are not being screened regularly. Dr. Rebecca Wray, a local physician and primary care lead, with the Central East Regional Cancer Program, stresses understanding the new cervical screening program and taking action is vital, for first-time testers, long-time patients, and anyone with a cervix.

Ontario’s cervical cancer screening program underwent a major update, in March of 2025, transitioning to HPV testing as the primary screening method. “The vast majority of cervical cancers are caused by cancer-causing strains of the HPV virus,” Dr. Wray explained. “By screening for HPV first, we have a better test. Cervical cancer rarely exists without HPV, so a negative HPV test means the likelihood of developing cervical cancer or cervical precancer, in the next five years, is extremely low - between 0.12 and 0.43 percent.”

For most patients, the test is performed in the same way they might remember a “Pap test” was done. A speculum is gently inserted, and a soft brush collects a sample from the cervix. The difference lies in how the sample is analyzed. For HPV-negative patients, the lab does not examine the cells, as the risk of progression is nearly zero. For HPV-positive patients, the lab examines cells under a microscope to detect precancerous changes. “It’s actually two tests for those patients,” Dr. Wray notes. “That’s why it’s a better screening approach - we can identify who needs closer follow-up.”

Despite the importance of screening, Ontario’s participation rates remain far from ideal. Only 62 to 65 percent of eligible patients are currently being screened. That leaves about one in three patients at risk of undetected pre-cancer or cancer. Dr. Wray emphasizes, improving these numbers and removing barriers on multiple levels is critical.

“Patient barriers can include access issues; many people don’t currently have a family doctor or nurse practitioner,” Dr. Wray said. Accessing an appointment with your primary care provider can be challenging, and finding time for preventive care can be challenging for busy women juggling many obligations. “The test itself can be intimidating, especially for patients with a history of trauma. Cultural factors, lack of understanding, or misconceptions about who needs the test can also play a role.” Some common myths persist: people assume they don’t need screening, if they have few sexual partners, have never had an abnormal test, or are older. In reality, anyone with a cervix, aged 25 to 69, is eligible for regular screening.

Access has improved in some areas. Residents of Port Perry, for instance, can receive cervical screening at the North Durham Family Health Team’s Unattached Patient Clinic or through their sexual health clinic. “Patients without a regular provider can still get comprehensive primary care, including all recommended cancer screening,” Dr. Wray noted. Kawartha Lakes offers similar access, through cervical screening pop-up clinics, ensuring people without a regular family doctor can still participate in life-saving screening.

Innovations are also expanding options. Port Perry is currently a pilot site for HPV self-swabbing, allowing patients to collect a sample in privacy. Currently, patients who prefer the HPV self-swab, rather than a provider-collected sample, will complete the test in the clinic, but in the future, there may be an option for at-home collection.“This is especially helpful for patients who avoid screening, due to geography, mobility, or personal preference,” Dr. Wray explained. “Choice is key to improving participation rates and ultimately saving lives.”

Dr. Wray stressed education is as important as access. Understanding what HPV is, how it is transmitted, and why screening works can help dispel fears and misconceptions. HPV is primarily transmitted through sexual activity which can include intimate touch beyond intercourse. While many HPV infections are cleared naturally by the body, the high-risk strains, targeted by screening, are more persistent and can lead to cellular changes which may eventually cause cervical cancer, if left undetected.

Cervical cancer is preventable, and screening is the best tool we have to stop it. With Ontario’s new HPV-first approach, those at low risk are spared unnecessary procedures, while high-risk patients are monitored carefully. Yet, the effectiveness of this program depends on widespread participation. Dr. Wray urges anyone with a cervix, between the ages of 25 and 69, to schedule their screening, even if they feel healthy. “We all need to understand what the test is, why it matters, and when we’re due,” she said. “Early detection saves lives.”

For residents of Durham and Kawartha Lakes without a family doctor, help is available. In Port Perry, the North Durham Family Health Team's Unattached Patient Clinic and sexual health services provide cervical screening and other primary care needs. Kawartha Lakes offers pop-up clinics across the region. With innovations like HPV self-swabbing on the horizon, getting screened has never been more accessible.

Cervical cancer is one of the few cancers which can be largely prevented with regular screening. Dr. Wray’s message is clear: take control of your health, know your options, and make screening a priority. Your cervix, and your life, may depend on it.