Canada may fall short of goal to eliminating cervical cancer by 2040, cancer society says

TORONTO — A Canadian Cancer Statistics report says the country may not reach its goal of eliminating cervical cancer by 2040.

Data published by the Canadian Cancer Statistics Advisory Committee shows a “concerning plateau” of cervical cancer rates, signalling Canada is moving in the wrong direction.

The World Health Organization set a global goal in 2018 of virtually eliminating this type of cancer, which is caused by the human papilloma virus, to fewer than four cases diagnosed per 100,000 females.

Canada was making progress for decades as cervical cancer rates steadily declined between 1984 and 2005, but since then the trend has fluctuated.

The Canadian Cancer Society’s director of surveillance Jennifer Gillis says that’s likely due to lower HPV vaccination rates, a decline in the ra