Doctors are calling for action. Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers, and rates in Canada had been dropping for years. Canada had even pledged to eliminate it completely by 2040. Not anymore. Rates have plateaued, and cervical cancer is the fourth most diagnosed cancer and fourth leading cause of cancer death among females worldwide. Is Canada still on track? On this episode, we talk about the causes of cervical cancer, how prevention strategies fall short because of vaccine hesitancy, how under-served communities are at risk and what jurisdictions around the world are on track to eliminate cervical cancer. Guests: Michelle Halligan Director of the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer and Nakia Lee-Foon, a Health equity researcher at the Institute for Better Health, Trillium Health Partners.

Research links:

1. Disparities in the allocation of research funding to gynecologic cancers by Funding to Lethality scores
   https://www.gynecologiconcology-online.net/article/S0090-8258(18)31302-7/abstract
2. Denmark could eradicate cervical cancer by 2040: study https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/article/denmark-could-eradicate-cervical-cancer-by-2040-study/ 
3. Addressing Anxiety and Fear during the Female Pelvic Examination 
   https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2150132721992195
4. Researchers redesign vaginal speculum to ease fear and pain
   https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/article/researchers-redesign-vaginal-speculum-to-ease-fear-and-pain/ 
5. New vaginal speculum design might motivate women to go for health checkups
   https://www.tudelft.nl/en/ide/delft-design-stories/new-vaginal-speculum-design-might-motivate-women-to-go-for-health-checkups 
6. Cervical cancer is ‘fastest-rising’ form in Canada as doctors urge action
   https://globalnews.ca/news/11698821/cervical-cancer-cases-rising-canada/ 
7. Progress Against Cervical Cancer in Canada
   https://health-infobase.canada.ca/cancer/progress-against-cancers/reports.html?type=1 
8. New Canadian Cancer Statistics report suggests Canada may fall short of its 2040 goal to eliminate cervical cancer
   https://cancer.ca/en/about-us/media-releases/2025/canadian-cancer-statistics-2025 
9. https://www.instituteforbetterhealth.com/member/lee-foon-nakia/ 
10. https://www.partnershipagainstcancer.ca/