HPV home test for cervical cancer to benefit Indigenous women in rural communities

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The provincial government’s recent announcement of a self-taken at-home test for HPV will benefit Indigenous women in rural communities, according to a Blueberry River First Nations member.

Last week, Premier David Eby announced the implementation of self-screening at home to test for the human papillomavirus (HPV). 

HPV is believed to be the leading cause of cervical cancer.  

Beginning on January 29th, patients aged 25 to 69 can choose to order a self-screen kit or have their screening sample collected from a healthcare professional.

“This more accurate, comfortable and convenient way to test will encourage more women, and vulnerable populations like trans people, across the province to get screened, including in more rural and remote communities,” said Eby.

Seen as the fourth most common cancer in women globally, statistics show that Indigenous women are at a higher risk for cervical cancer than non-Indigenous women.

According to a 2020 article by the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA),  Indigenous women are 92 per cent more likely to develop cervical cancer within their lifetimes. 

Survival rates in Indigenous women are generally lower as well.

Lillian Apsassin, health director for the Blueberry River First Nations, believes a self-take-home test would be beneficial.

“I think, obviously, it is good news,” said Apsassin.

She said Blueberry River First Nation is attempting new strategies, such as workshops, to educate its community about the risks associated with not getting checked until it is too late.

“As women, we are trying to educate the community on how to take care of ourselves and what needs to be checked,” said Apsassin.

The province is going to transition away from traditional pap tests to making HPV testing its primary method for detecting cervical cancer.  This is because HPV tests can detect the virus before it can cause cancer as well. 

Pap tests will, however, be used as a secondary test as needed.

Beginning January 29th, B.C. residents can request a kit directly from the cervix-screening program by phone at 1-877-702-6566 or online.

Once the sample is collected, the completed kit can be mailed free for analysis.