The Cancer We Could Actually Wipe Out – If We Choose To
The First Cancer We Could Actually Eliminate: Why 350,000 Women Still Die From Cervical Cancer Every Year
I want to tell you about something unprecedented in cancer history: the world has set a goal to eliminate a cancer. Not cure everyone who gets it, not reduce deaths by some percentage – actually eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem within a generation.
This isn’t science fiction. It’s achievable with tools we already have. And that makes the current reality even more heartbreaking.
In 2022, about 660,000 women worldwide were diagnosed with cervical cancer. Roughly 350,000 died from it – about one every 90 seconds. It’s the fourth most common cancer in women globally.
Here’s what makes me angry: 99% of cervical cancer cases are caused by a single virus – human papillomavirus, or HPV. We have a vaccine that prevents that virus. We have screening tests that catch pre-cancerous changes before they become cancer. And when cervical cancer is detected early, it’s one of the most successfully treatable cancers.
So why are hundreds of thousands of women still dying?
How a Common Virus Becomes a Killer
Let me explain how this works, because understanding the mechanism makes the solution obvious.
HPV is an extremely common virus transmitted through sexual contact. Most sexually active people will get some form of HPV in their lives. There are over 100 types of HPV, and most are harmless – your immune system clears them without you ever knowing you had them.
But certain “high-risk” types of HPV, particularly HPV types 16 and 18, can persist in the body. When these infections don’t clear, they can cause normal cells in the cervix (the entrance to the uterus from the vagina) to change. Over years or even decades, these abnormal cells can develop into cancer.
That slow progression is actually good news for prevention. It means we have a long window to detect and treat pre-cancerous changes before they become actual cancer.
The vaccine prevents HPV infection in the first place. Screening catches abnormal cells before they turn into cancer. Treatment stops cancer when it’s still highly curable.
Three interventions. One virus. A cancer we could eliminate.
The Inequality That Kills
When I looked at WHO’s cervical cancer data by region, the pattern was stark and infuriating.
In high-income countries with strong healthcare systems and widespread HPV vaccination and screening programs, cervical cancer rates are dropping. Five-year survival rates in these countries often exceed 70%.
In low- and middle-income countries, it’s a completely different story. These countries bear 90% of the global cervical cancer burden. Women often don’t have access to HPV vaccines. Screening programs are limited or non-existent. By the time symptoms appear and a woman seeks care, the cancer is often advanced.
I read about women in rural areas who develop symptoms – abnormal bleeding, pain, discharge – but have to travel for days to reach a facility that can diagnose cancer. By then it’s often too late for curative treatment. They die from a disease that could have been prevented with a vaccine costing a few dollars or detected with a simple screening test.
This isn’t about biology. It’s about access. The same disease, vastly different outcomes based purely on where you’re born.
The 90-70-90 Plan to Eliminate Cervical Cancer
In 2020, WHO launched something remarkable: the Global Strategy to Accelerate the Elimination of Cervical Cancer. It’s the first time the world has committed to eliminating a specific cancer as a public health problem.
The strategy sets clear, measurable targets for 2030 – the 90-70-90 targets:
90% of girls fully vaccinated with HPV vaccine by age 15. This prevents infection with the cancer-causing virus in the first place. The vaccine is most effective when given before sexual activity begins, typically between ages 9-14.
70% of women screened with a high-performance test by age 35, and again by age 45. Screening detects pre-cancerous changes that can be treated before they become cancer. Modern HPV tests can identify high-risk infections, and visual inspection or other methods can catch abnormal cells.
90% of women identified with cervical disease receive treatment. This includes treatment of pre-cancerous lesions (which prevents cancer) and management of invasive cancer (surgery, radiation, chemotherapy) when needed.
If every country meets these targets, WHO estimates we could reduce cervical cancer cases by more than 40% and deaths by 5 million over the next decade.
Why This Cancer Is Different
I’ve written about many health initiatives, but this one feels different. Other cancers involve complex genetic mutations, multiple risk factors, and difficult-to-detect early stages. Cervical cancer is unique.
It has a single primary cause we can prevent. The disease progresses slowly, giving us years to detect it. Screening is relatively simple and inexpensive. Treatment is highly effective when the cancer is caught early. And we have proof that comprehensive programs work – countries that implemented widespread HPV vaccination and screening have seen dramatic declines in cervical cancer.
Australia is on track to potentially eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem by 2035 thanks to high HPV vaccination rates and organized screening. Other high-income countries are seeing similar trends.
If it works in Australia, it can work everywhere. The barriers aren’t scientific – they’re about resources, infrastructure, political will, and ensuring equitable access.
The HPV Vaccine Story
When the HPV vaccine first became available in 2006, it was expensive and primarily available in wealthy countries. That’s changed dramatically.
Vaccine prices have dropped. Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, has helped introduce HPV vaccines in many low-income countries. WHO now recommends a one or two-dose schedule for girls aged 9-14, making vaccination programs simpler and cheaper than the previous three-dose regimen.
But coverage remains uneven. Many girls worldwide still don’t have access to the vaccine that could protect them from cervical cancer. Cultural barriers, vaccine hesitancy, and lack of healthcare infrastructure all play roles.
I talked to a public health doctor who described the frustration of watching girls miss out on a cancer-preventing vaccine because of logistical challenges or misinformation. “We have the solution in hand,” she told me. “We just need to get it to the girls who need it.”
What Happens Without Treatment
I need to be honest about what untreated or late-stage cervical cancer looks like, because the human cost drives home why elimination matters.
Early cervical cancer often has no symptoms. By the time a woman notices abnormal vaginal bleeding, pain during sex, or pelvic pain, the cancer may be advanced.
Late-stage cervical cancer can cause severe pain, bleeding, infection, and kidney failure. Treatment at advanced stages is less effective and more invasive. Even with treatment, five-year survival for advanced cervical cancer drops to around 15-20%.
But here’s what makes this particularly tragic: palliative care – treatment focused on relieving symptoms and improving quality of life – is also often unavailable in low-resource settings. Women die not just from a preventable cancer, but without adequate pain relief or supportive care.
The Path to Elimination
Countries are making progress. WHO reports that over 140 countries have introduced HPV vaccination. More countries are implementing or scaling up cervical cancer screening. Awareness is growing.
But we’re not moving fast enough. At current rates, we won’t meet the 2030 targets. And every year we delay, hundreds of thousands more women will die unnecessarily.
What needs to happen? Governments need to prioritize HPV vaccination and screening programs. Healthcare systems need to be strengthened to deliver these services, especially in rural and underserved areas. Communities need accurate information about prevention and screening. And global health financing needs to support countries that can’t afford programs on their own.
Cervical cancer elimination is possible. The tools exist. The science is clear. The strategy is defined.
What we need now is the will to actually do it – to ensure every girl gets vaccinated, every woman gets screened, and everyone who needs treatment receives it.
Because no woman should die from a cancer we know how to prevent.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cervical Cancer
Cervical cancer is cancer that develops in the cervix, the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina. It starts when normal cells in the cervix change and begin growing uncontrollably. Almost all cervical cancer (99% of cases) is caused by persistent infection with high-risk types of human papillomavirus (HPV).
Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide. In 2022, approximately 660,000 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer globally, and about 350,000 died from the disease. However, rates vary dramatically by region – 90% of cases and deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a very common virus transmitted through sexual contact. There are over 100 types, but only certain “high-risk” types (particularly HPV 16 and 18) cause cervical cancer. Most HPV infections clear on their own, but persistent infection with high-risk types can cause cervical cells to change over time, eventually developing into cancer if untreated.
Yes! WHO has set a goal to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem, which would be the first cancer elimination in history. It’s achievable because we have effective prevention (HPV vaccine), screening (to catch pre-cancerous changes), and treatment. Countries meeting the 90-70-90 targets by 2030 can be on track for elimination within a generation.
These are WHO’s targets for cervical cancer elimination by 2030: 90% of girls fully vaccinated against HPV by age 15, 70% of women screened with a high-performance test by ages 35 and 45, and 90% of women with cervical disease receiving appropriate treatment. Meeting these targets puts countries on track to eliminate cervical cancer.
For more information:
- WHO Cervical Cancer Overview
- Cervical Cancer Elimination Initiative
- Global Strategy for Cervical Cancer Elimination
- Cervical Cancer Fact Sheet
Disclaimer: This article is an adaptation of publicly available information from WHO’s Cervical Cancer
health topic page (WHO, Geneva. Licence: CC BYNC-SA 3.0 IGO). WHO is not responsible for the
content or accuracy of this adaptation. This content is for informational and educational purposes
only and does not constitute medical advice. ObserverVoice.com is a news and information platform
— not a healthcare provider.
Observer Voice is the one stop site for National, International news, Sports, Editor’s Choice, Art/culture contents, Quotes and much more. We also cover historical contents. Historical contents includes World History, Indian History, and what happened today. The website also covers Entertainment across the India and World.
