General News
13 July, 2025
Call the doctor: Advancements in cancer screening
In this week's column, Dr Felix Ritson talks about non-invasive screening for cancer. These advances will hopefully encourage more people to be tested regularly.
This fortnight, I'd like to discuss cancer screening.
Over the past few years, there have been significant changes to how people can be screened for cervical and prostate cancer.
Before we begin, however, I need to clarify the difference between “screening” and “investigation”.
Screening is the widespread use of a test to detect a disease in a healthy population.
Whereas investigation uses a test to detect a disease in an unwell individual.
Cervical cancer is the 4th most common cancer and cause of cancer death globally.
The development of the disease in an individual is associated with a viral infection in the vaginal canal, the Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV).
Thanks to Australia's screening program for the disease and vaccination program against the virus, Australia is on track to be the first country in the world to in essence, eliminate the disease.
But we aren't there yet. 1 in 185 women will be diagnosed with the condition by the age of 85. If identified early, it is curable.
Screening for this condition used to be done via a procedure commonly called a pap smear.
However this is no longer the case.
Research has determined that simply testing for the HSV virus with a swab can effectively screen for cancer.
The swab is, said in the simplest way possible, a COVID swab for your vagina.
This can be done by yourself, even in the privacy of your own home, or by a health professional.
Women aged 25 to 75 years of age are suggested to have a screening swab every 5 years.
Those with a strong family history, history of cervical disease or previously positive tests may require more frequent swabs or alternative testing.
Please talk to your GP about being screened for cervical cancer.
In a similar vein (no pun intended), is prostate cancer screening via a blood test called a Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) level.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in Australia, with 1 in 6 men being diagnosed with it by age 85.
It is the second most common cause of death from cancer in men.
Again, the disease is often very treatable if caught early.
Sadly, the condition often remains undiagnosed despite symptoms developing, namely difficulties when passing urine.
The most recent Royal Australian College of General Practitioners guidelines on this topic are from 2015, and suggest that screening is considered on a case-by-case basis.
However, since then, the development of prostate specific Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Transperineal Biopsy has significantly improved the diagnosis and management of the disease.
This has led the Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand (USANZ) and Cancer Council of Australia to now suggest widespread routine screening.
As a result of these developments, another useful change has occurred. In the past, rectal examinations were often part of screening alongside a PSA test.
The USANZ and Cancer Council state that it is no longer recommended that GP’s perform this uncomfortable examination as part of screening for prostate cancer.
A simple blood test is recommended by the USANZ every 2 years for most men aged over 50.
Those with family history or other risk factors may need earlier or more frequent testing.
Please talk to your GP about being screened for prostate cancer.