Working towards the equitable elimination of cervical cancer in Victoria
“Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers and cervical screening is the best way we can all protect ourselves against it. Yet, we know that many LGBTQI+ people face barriers that prevent them from accessing regular cervical screening,” said Cancer Council Victoria’s Head of Screening, Early Detection and Immunisation, Kate Broun.
New research from La Trobe University has revealed that only 58 per cent of surveyed eligible LGBTQI+ Australians had done a Cervical Screening Test in the previous two years[1]. Among transgender men, participation was found to be as low as 38.9 per cent.
To help address this issue, Cancer Council Victoria and Thorne Harbour Health joined forces to protect LGBTQI+ Victorians with a cervix from cervical cancer, launching the latest Public Cervix Announcement campaign.
Featuring the stories of five Victorian LGBTQI+ ambassadors from across the community, the campaign shared content across Meta, Spotify and through aligned media such as Joy FM, delivering important cervical screening messages, including the self-collection option. This Cervical LGBTQI+ campaign was also nominated by Spotify for its Spotify Advertising Hit’s award.
As a transgender man, Campaign Ambassador Gabe said self-collection is an important step to making cervical screening more accessible for trans and gender diverse people with a cervix.
"Now that there is the option to self-collect, there's a greater sense of control and autonomy that we didn’t previously have with cervical screening. It’s so important that we make sure everyone is aware of this option and feels able to ask for it,” Gabe said.
Public health professional and Campaign Ambassador Jen, said she had always felt uncomfortable with cervical screening herself, and would often put off having the test done. She now wants more people to know about the option to self-collect.
“It’s so important that we protect ourselves against cancer and I want people to take away from the campaign that there’s a new option for cervical screening, and that it’s much easier and much less invasive.”
The low uptake for cervical screening is just one example of the additional barriers faced by people in the LGBTQI+ community when they are impacted by cancer.
Cancer Council Victoria now has a dedicated space on our website with tailored resources addressing issues and concerns affecting LGBTQI+ people with cancer and their families.
[1] Kerr L, Bourne A, Hill AO, McNair R, Wyatt K, Lyons A, Carman M, Amos N (2023) The importance of LGBTQ affirming cervical screening services for achieving cervical cancer elimination in Australia. Melbourne, Australia: Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University.
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