Govt support for Cancer Prevention Week

The Department of Health is focusing on two specific aspects – immunisation and screening.

The immunisation programme is offered to all girls aged 12-13 and there’s clear evidence that HPV vaccination will prevent 70 per cent of cervical cancers.

The immunisation programme began in 2010 and each year 85 per cent of girls in year eight take up the vaccinations. 

The peak incidence of cervical cancer is between the ages of 40 to 55 and is very rare in women aged below 25.  

Approximately one in 20 screening results show some changes, although the majority of these changes don’t lead to cancer and are followed up by the screening team.