Cervical cancer Archives

January – Cervical Cancer Awareness Month

January is internationally dedicated to raising awareness about cervical cancer. Known as Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, it aims to highlight the importance of prevention, early detection, and vaccination against the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is responsible for nearly all cases of the disease.

Cervical cancer remains a major public health issue worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 660,000 new cases are diagnosed globally each year, and more than 350,000 women lose their lives to the disease. It is among the most common cancers affecting women, particularly in regions where access to preventive screening and vaccination is limited. At the same time, it is one of the few cancers that can largely be prevented through organized prevention and early detection programmes.

In Greece, available data indicate that around 700 new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed annually, while more than 280 deaths are attributed to the disease each year. The estimated incidence is approximately 8 cases per 100,000 women. Although this places Greece close to the European average, it also highlights the need for further improvement in prevention and early diagnosis.

Cervical cancer is closely linked to chronic infection with human papillomavirus (HPV), a very common virus transmitted mainly through sexual contact.

HPV vaccination, combined with regular gynaecological screening through Pap tests and HPV tests, can significantly reduce the development of precancerous lesions and cervical cancer. In this context, the World Health Organization has set the goal of eliminating cervical cancer as a public health problem by 2030, through high vaccination coverage, universal screening, and timely treatment.

January serves as an important reminder that information and prevention save lives. Open discussion around women’s health, free from fear and stigma, empowers women to take care of themselves and to claim prevention as a fundamental right.

Special emphasis should be placed on the systematic education of younger generations, as prevention begins long before any symptoms appear. Access to reliable information, preventive screening services, and vaccination programmes is a key factor in reducing health inequalities and protecting future generations.

At KAPA3, we believe that information and prevention are core pillars of care and empowerment. Through the dissemination of reliable information and the support of initiatives that promote public health, we stand alongside every woman who needs knowledge, prevention, and timely care.

Because cervical cancer can be prevented, we encourage everyone to take action. Give a meaningful gift to the women you care about: daughters, sisters, mothers, friends, partners, spouses. Talk openly about women’s health, share information, support initiatives, challenge taboos, and promote early diagnostic screening.

Information and open dialogue are the strongest tools we have.

Sources:

World Health Organization (WHO)
Cervical cancer – Fact sheet

WHO – Global strategy to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer

International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC / WHO)
Cervical Cancer Awareness Month

ICO / IARC HPV Information Centre – Greece Factsheet

Ministry of Health – National Immunization Programme

Hellenic National Public Health Organization (EODY)
HPV and cervical cancer

Text/adaptation: Ifiyenia Anastasiou for Kapa3

World AIDS Day — December 1

World AIDS Day is a powerful reminder that the fight against HIV/AIDS is far from over. Despite remarkable progress in recent decades, millions of people worldwide are still living with the virus. At the same time, inequalities in access to prevention, diagnosis and treatment continue to cost lives.

Established in 1988 as the first international health-related awareness day, World AIDS Day has since served as a global call for informed action, early diagnosis, destigmatization and equitable care.

What We Know Today About HIV/AIDS

According to recent UNAIDS data, more than 39 million people are living with HIV globally — and thanks to modern treatments, they can live full and healthy lives.

The science is encouraging. Antiretroviral therapy (ART/ARVs) allows people on treatment to reach undetectable viral loads, which means they cannot transmit the virus (“Undetectable = Untransmittable”).

Yet despite this progress, new infections still occur — mainly in communities facing social exclusion, economic hardship, or limited access to healthcare services. At the same time, lack of information and persistent stigma remain major barriers that delay testing and treatment.

HIV & Cancer: An Important Connection

The link between HIV and several forms of cancer isn’t widely known, yet it is significant:

People living with HIV have a higher risk of cervical cancer due to the more persistent presence of HPV.
Increased risk is also observed for non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Kaposi sarcoma and several cancers associated with chronic viral infections.
Early diagnosis, continuous treatment and regular screening significantly reduce these risks.

At Kapa3, we have published articles on the importance of screening and patient empowerment, which you can find here: Article1, Article2, Article3, Article4, Article5.

The Situation in Greece

Greece has made important progress in recent years, thanks to the operation of Checkpoints, the support of NGOs and prevention structures, the spread of PrEP, and improved access to treatment.

In 2024, Greece recorded a small decrease (4%) in new HIV diagnoses compared to 2023, according to the Hellenic National Public Health Organization (EODY). However, underdiagnosis remains a real concern. Many people avoid timely testing due to stigma and fear of discrimination.

Prevention: What Each of Us Can Do

Testing: a simple test can save lives.
Condom use & comprehensive sexual education.
PrEP & PEP: modern and effective prevention tools.
Eliminating stigma: information and open dialogue remain our strongest forms of protection.
Supporting facilities that provide access to prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

A Human Rights Issue

At Kapa3, we believe World AIDS Day concerns all of us. Access to healthcare is a fundamental right. No one should be afraid to get tested, speak openly or seek support.

According to International Human Rights Law, discrimination based on HIV status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, health status (including substance use), or sex work constitutes a violation of human rights.

World AIDS Day reminds us that knowledge, prevention and solidarity save lives — and that a world without new HIV infections is possible.

Sources

UNAIDS
HIV.gov
AIDS Healthcare Foundation
EODY (Hellenic National Public Health Organization)

Text/Adaptation: Ifiyenia Anastasiou for Kapa3

17/11, Cervical Cancer Elimination Day of Action

Today is dedicated to a goal that, until recently, seemed almost impossible: the complete elimination of cervical cancer.

This is the only cancer that can be almost entirely prevented, thanks to HPV vaccination and regular screening.

This day was internationally established following the World Health Organization’s initiative in 2020 and was officially recognized in 2025 by the World Health Assembly as the “World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day.” It reminds us that awareness and access to healthcare save lives—and that no woman should be lost to a cancer that can be prevented.

Key Statistics

Cervical cancer remains the fourth most common cancer among women worldwide. Every year, hundreds of thousands of new cases are diagnosed, and according to the latest WHO data, approximately 660,000 new cases and nearly 350,000 deaths were recorded in 2022.

In Europe, there has been a steady decline thanks to screening and vaccination programs, but inequalities between countries persist. Despite significant international progress, disparities remain: in many regions, access to HPV vaccination is not universal, and organized population screening programs do not exist. This means that many women do not have the same opportunity for early diagnosis and treatment, leading to much higher mortality in lower-income countries.

Situation in Greece

In Greece, according to ICO/IARC data, about 697 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer every year, while approximately 282 die from the disease. Significant progress has been made, with the inclusion of the HPV vaccine in the National Vaccination Program and the development of organized screening actions. Still, awareness remains the key tool to increase women’s participation in Pap and HPV tests.

In this context, it is worth remembering the Greek doctor Georgios Papanikolaou, the scientist who gave his name to the Pap test and paved the way for the worldwide reduction in cervical cancer mortality. His contribution is one of the most significant in the history of preventive medicine.

What We Can Do

In Kapa3, we firmly believe, that today is not just a reminder. It is a call for all of us to take a step: to talk to the women around us. To break the silence, the fear, and the stigma. Let’s celebrate Cervical Cancer Elimination Day by speaking with friends, daughters, mothers, sisters—by reaching out to the women in our lives and promoting prevention.

Through awareness, prevention, and equitable access to healthcare services, cervical cancer can truly become a thing of the past. Every step in this direction is a victory for all.