Australia wants to become the first country to eliminate a cancer – can it?

Australia wants to become the first – When Chrissy Walters first learned she would not survive to see her daughter grow up, the 39-year-old mother in Toowoomba, Queensland, had already endured a prolonged battle to conceive. Months after giving birth to her first child, a diagnosis of advanced cervical cancer upended her future. “I just said to [my husband] Neil… there has been a huge mistake,” she recalls. The disease, which had silently taken root, now threatens to claim her life, with doctors predicting a terminal outcome. Her 12-year-old daughter, who has been exposed to the illness since childhood, has already experienced discussions about mortality at the age of three. Yet, as the girl approaches the age of eligibility for Australia’s national vaccination program, the nation’s campaign to eradicate cervical cancer may finally reshape the family’s fate.

A National Approach to a Preventable Disease

Cervical cancer, once a leading cause of death among women in Australia, is now the focus of a bold public health initiative. The country aims to become the first to eliminate the disease as a major health issue, a target that could be achieved by 2035. This ambitious goal hinges on a combination of widespread vaccination and innovative screening methods. The program, which includes the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, has transformed how the disease is tackled. While HPV often shows no symptoms and can vanish on its own, certain strains are linked to cervical cancer, which ranks as the fourth most common cancer in women globally. The vaccine offers a rare opportunity to prevent the virus before it leads to malignancy.

For over a decade, Australia has maintained an aggressive strategy. The National Immunisation Programme ensures that more than 80% of girls under 15 receive the HPV vaccine, and 85% of women in the high-risk age group undergo regular screenings. These efforts have already yielded significant results. Since 1982, when records began, the incidence and mortality rates of cervical cancer have both declined by half. In 2021, a milestone was reached: no cases were diagnosed in women under 25. While the country still has about 6.3 new cases per 100,000 women annually, experts say this marks the first step toward eradication.

The Breakthrough Behind the Initiative

Australia’s journey toward eliminating cervical cancer began in 2006 with a scientific milestone. At the University of Queensland, researchers developed Gardasil, the first HPV vaccine to gain global approval. This breakthrough, which emerged after decades of study, revolutionized prevention efforts. Just a year later, in 2007, the nation launched the world’s first national HPV vaccination program, setting a precedent for other countries. “Public health innovations in Australia sort of gave a general exemplar for WHO to follow,” says Professor Karen Canfell, an epidemiologist who has tracked the disease’s trajectory. Her work, alongside the World Health Organisation, helped model a path to elimination.

The vaccine’s success was amplified by complementary measures. In 2017, Australia transitioned from pap smear tests to HPV-based screening, a shift that made early detection more efficient. This method, requiring checks every five years, has proven more sensitive and effective. The program also introduced self-sampling options for women, a move the government called a “game-changer” for those uncomfortable with pelvic exams or facing barriers to healthcare access. These policies have not only improved detection rates but also boosted participation in prevention efforts.

A Mother’s Story and the Cost of Delay

Chrissy Walters’ experience underscores the personal toll of cervical cancer. Her diagnosis, delivered after years of fertility struggles and a life-threatening bleed at home, revealed the disease’s insidious nature. “I would never wish [this] on my worst enemy,” she says, reflecting on the anguish of watching her daughter grow up without a mother. Her case is emblematic of a generation that once faced high risks of the disease, but now benefits from Australia’s proactive measures. For women in her age group, the combination of vaccination and screening has drastically reduced the likelihood of developing cervical cancer.

Despite these advances, challenges persist. While the vaccination rate for girls under 15 is robust, some populations remain underserved. Additionally, the screening program, though highly effective, requires consistent follow-up. Canfell notes that the concept of elimination is still evolving. “It’s not all women of all ages yet, but you can see that concept of elimination being realised,” she explains. The goal is not to eradicate the disease entirely but to reduce it to fewer than four cases per 100,000 people, a threshold that signifies its control as a public health threat.

Global Leadership and the Path Forward

Australia’s progress has positioned it as a global leader in cervical cancer control. The country’s early adoption of the HPV vaccine and its commitment to refining screening protocols have set a standard for others to follow. However, the race to become the first nation to eliminate a cancer is far from over. Researchers are closely monitoring the data to determine if the 2035 target is achievable. Assessors have already reported that Australia is on track to meet its goal, with the possibility of reaching it earlier than expected.

Canfell highlights the importance of sustained investment in public health. “Elimination is not a single action but a series of steps,” she says. These steps include not only vaccination and screening but also education and access to care. The program’s success has been bolstered by cultural shifts—such as encouraging girls to take the vaccine and empowering women to collect their own samples. Yet, the battle against cervical cancer remains a testament to the power of early intervention. As Walters’ story illustrates, the disease can strike at any time, but with the right tools, it may no longer define a woman’s future.

The narrative of elimination is both scientific and deeply human. For every statistic, there is a personal journey—like Chrissy Walters’, whose life has been reshaped by the disease. But the country’s efforts offer hope. By 2035, cervical cancer could be a relic of the past, a triumph of public health over a once-deadly illness. The question now is whether this vision will become a reality. As the vaccination program continues to expand and screening methods improve, the answer may lie in the hands of a new generation of Australians, who are growing up with the promise of a cancer-free future. The race to eliminate a cancer is not just a medical achievement—it is a social and cultural one, driven by innovation, persistence, and a shared commitment to progress.