Talking about cervical cancer is discussing a disease that, in the 21st century, should not continue to claim lives. Not because it is rare or unpredictable, but because we know its cause, its risk factors, and, above all, how to prevent it. It originates in the cervix and is closely associated with persistent infection by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), a very common sexually transmitted virus.
Most people will become infected at some point, but only a fraction will develop precancerous lesions and eventually cancer. The problem is not the virus itself, but rather the late diagnosis. Chile has solid prevention tools.
For over a decade, the HPV vaccine has been part of the National Immunization Program and is administered free of charge to school-aged girls and boys. Evidence has shown its effectiveness in preventing infections from the highest oncogenic risk genotypes. However, vaccination does not erase previous history: there are generations of women who did not have access to this protection in their childhood.
Therefore, screening remains crucial. The Pap test, a simple examination available in primary care, allows for the detection of cellular alterations before they progress. This is complemented by the HPV PCR test, which is more sensitive and directly identifies the presence of high-risk virus.
Both, when performed at the recommended intervals, save lives. Then an uncomfortable question arises: if there are vacc…
Many women do not arrive on time for their check-ups due to long working hours, lack of information, fear, negative previous experiences, or territorial barriers. Prevention does not solely depend on the availability of services but on the real possibility of accessing them. From the midwifery perspective, this reality is everyday.
Prevention is built with both knowledge and concrete conditions. Education in sexual and reproductive health, timely access to check-ups, and the continuity of public policies require a sustained, intersectoral, and people-centered approach. Cervical cancer is one of the few diseases that the world has set out to eliminate as a public health problem.
Chile has the tools to move in that direction. The challenge is to strengthen them with equity and continuity. Timely prevention remains the difference between arriving late or not arriving at all.