18  July  2006

TORONTO -

The approval of the cervical cancer vaccine by Health Canada is welcomed by the Canadian Cancer Society.

“This is a significant advance for women’s health,” says Heather Logan, Director, Cancer Control Policy, Canadian Cancer Society. “We commend Health Canada for moving quickly to approve the vaccine. It has the potential to substantially reduce both new cases and death from cervical cancer in Canada.”

The main risk factor for developing cervical cancer is an infection of the cervix with human papillomavirus, or HPV. There are more than 100 different types of HPV. The vaccine is effective against HPV 16 and HPV 18 – which are responsible for about 70 per cent of cervical cancers.

“While this is a complex health issue and there are many factors to consider, a straightforward calculation shows us that in Canada, once the vaccine is in regular use, about 900 fewer women will be diagnosed,” says Logan.

According to Canadian Cancer Statistics 2006, there will be an estimated 1,350 cervical cancers diagnosed this year in Canada and approximately 390 deaths. It is estimated that worldwide there are about 500,000 new cervical cancer cases a year and about 250,000 deaths.

Logan  stresses that while the vaccine is good news for women, the Canadian Cancer Society will continue to recommend that women be screened for cervical cancer.

“The vaccine should be viewed as a complement, not a replacement, for cervical cancer screening. As 30 per cent of cervical cancer is not caused by HPV 16 and 18, women still need to get screened for this type of cancer. We know cervical screening works, as it has reduced death from this type of cancer by about 60 per cent since the late 70s.”

Now that the vaccine has been approved, Logan adds that a number of other critical steps have to take place, including: The Public Health Agency of Canada’s National Advisory Committee on Immunization will determine who should receive the vaccination, when immunization should begin and the schedule of vaccines; Health Canada will determine the cost of the vaccine; and comprehensive clinical practice guidelines will be developed.

The Canadian Cancer Society has contributed in a significant way to today’s announcement. Since the mid-1990s, the Society has been funding one of the leading Canadian researchers in this area – Dr. Eduardo Franco. Dr. Franco’s research has led to major advances in our understanding on how to detect and prevent cervical cancer. His research team is one of several groups throughout the world which identified that human papillomavirus is linked to cervical cancer. In 2005, Dr. Franco participated in a clinical trial that showed a vaccine was effective at preventing up to 100 per cent of infections with the two types of HPV that most commonly cause cervical cancer. The results, published in The Lancet, attracted international attention.

The Canadian Cancer Society is a national community-based organization of volunteers whose mission is to eradicate cancer and to enhance the quality of life of people living with cancer. When you want to know more about cancer, visit our website www.cancer.ca or call our toll-free, bilingual Cancer Information Service at 1 888 939-3333.

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For more information, please contact:

Kerstin Ring

Senior Manager, Communications

Canadian Cancer Society, National office

Phone:  (416) 934-5664

Alexa Giorgi

Bilingual Communications Specialist

Canadian Cancer Society, National office

Phone:  (416) 934-5681, Cell: (416) 528-1789