Eliminating cervical cancer in the COVID-19 era

In a new Comment in the journal Nature Cancer, Dr Partha Basu of the Early Detection, Prevention, and Infections Branch of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and international colleagues discuss the indirect impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, on global cancer prevention and control efforts, particularly for cervical cancer.

The cervical cancer prevention and control agenda is facing substantial threats because of indirect consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on delivery of health services. In the context of urgent efforts to control the spread of SARS-CoV-2, it will also be essential to understand the economic and societal impacts of the pandemic and to set in motion strategies for maintaining progress towards addressing existing global health concerns.

The authors suggest some comparisons between the COVID-19 pandemic and the cancer burden induced by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, as well as opportunities to translate strategies for pandemic control into effective cancer control.

Ginsburg O, Basu P, Kapambwe S, Canfell K.
Eliminating cervical cancer in the COVID-19 era
Nat Cancer, Published online 3 February 2021;
https://doi.org/10.1038/s43018-021-00178-9

Read the Comment