Improving Cervical Cancer Prevention by HPV Self-sampling, Colposcopy and Biomarkers

Abstract

The worldwide incidence rate of cervical cancer is around 500 000 per year with a mortality rate of around 270 000 women per year. With these figures, it represents the third most common cancer among women worldwide, after breast and colorectal cancer. However, the incidence varies widely among countries; with an average incidence of 452 000 new cases per year in developing countries versus 76 000 new cases per year in developed countries (Figure 1). This lower incidence of cervical cancer in developed countries is at least partially the result of organized cervical cancer screening programs, which lead to earlier detection of cervical cancer and treatable premalignant stages. Since the introduction of the national organised screening program in the Netherlands in the 1970s, the cervical cancer incidence and mortality have significantly reduced (see paragraph 3.2.1). Between 1999 and 2009 around 700 new cases of cervical cancer were diagnosed yearly with approximately 200-250 deaths. The peak cervical cancer incidence is between 40 and 44 years. 4 The overall 5-year survival rate is 66% in the Netherlands.