28 January 2022
Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable and curable of all cancers. Having a cervical screening test every five years can reduce the risk of being diagnosed with cervical cancer by up to 96 per cent yet only 50.9 per cent of eligible women in South Western Sydney are screened regularly.
- Every year about 800 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and about 250 women die
- 80 per cent of these women have either never been screened or have had irregular screening
National Cervical Screening Program
The National Cervical Screening Program reduces illness and death from cervical cancer. Women aged 25 to 74 years of age are invited to have a cervical screening test every five years.
Find more information about the National Cervical Cancer Screening Program on the Department of Health website.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) immunisation service
Vaccination is a safe and effective way to protect you from HPV. The HPV vaccine is often called the ‘cervical cancer vaccine’.
Who is the HPV vaccine recommended for?
- people aged approximately 12 to 13 years (at school), for free under the National Immunisation Program (NIP)
- men who have sex with men, if they have not already had a full course of HPV vaccine
- people over nine years old who have weakened immune systems