A new cancer screening at the start. Ats sends letters to 26 thousand Como

36% of the women invited took part in the new screening for cervical cancer. This year, Ats Insubria has launched a new oncological screening, in addition to mammography to fight breast cancer and the search for occult blood to fight colon cancer. Cervical cancer screening is for women between the ages of 25 and 64 to diagnose cervical lesions at risk. The papilloma virus, Hpv, is the main cause of the malignant evolution of possible diseases. A first test is followed by in-depth checks.

«Ats Insubria reports that, from January 2022 to the end of June, it invited 26,782 women in the 25-64 age group, residing in the area of ​​competence, to screen: 11,938 in the Como area and 14,844 in the Varese area. 9,579 women took part in the invitation, with a participation rate of 36%. The number of women sent for colposcopy for positivity of the two tests mentioned above were equal to 305 or 3.2% of the women adhering to the screening “.

The new public screening program consists in the active offer of Pap smears to women between the ages of 25 and 29, not already vaccinated with HPV in adolescence. Women between the ages of 30 and 64, regardless of their vaccination status, are invited to carry out an Hpv Dna test, to be repeated every five years in case of negativity. Younger women, previously vaccinated with a full cycle, will be invited for the first time to screening, with Hpv Dna test every five years, starting from the age of 30.

«However, it is important to highlight the importance for all women – she comments Annalisa Donadini, director of the preventive medicine service of Ats Insubria – even for those who adhere to screening, to provide periodic gynecological checks for a more extensive and complete assessment of the health of the genital and reproductive system. In fact, cervical cancer screening certainly represents a precious opportunity for women to enter a structured preventive process, but it is good to know that it is specifically aimed at the prevention of cervical cancer “. The new screening will be progressively extended to all women falling within the target.