Update on cervical screening- expert seminar

Australia's National Cervical Screening Program currently recommends biennial Pap smear screening in women 18 to 69 years, and has been very successful in reducing incidence and mortality from cervical cancer. The rollout of the National HPV Vaccination Program, which has already reduced high grade abnormalities in young women in Australia has prompted major change. Together with an accumulation of evidence on primary HPV DNA testing, this has led to new recommendations for cervical screening in Australia. These recommendations, which have emerged out of a structured and evidence-based process of review (the 'Renewal'), propose cervical screening be conducted every 5 years in women 25 and older, and that women are discharged from screening in their early seventies. The seminar will provide a review of the evidence base underpinning the Renewal recommendations and provide an update on a major new trial of primary HPV screening which is anticipated to have a key role in the future transition of the screening program.

• Chair: Robyn Ward, Head of Adult Cancer Program, UNSW Lowy Cancer Research Centre,
• Dr. Philip Castle, G3C Inc: "Update on the international evidence on HPV screening" :
• A/Prof Karen Canfell, Lowy Cancer Research Centre: "Impact of vaccination in Australia and findings from the Renewal evaluation".
• A/Prof Marion Saville, “Role of the Compass trial in the transition to a renewed National Cervical Screening Program”.

Followed by a panel discussion, drinks and canapés