eNewsletter  |  February 2021

Important changes to the National Cervical Screening Program (NCSP) guidelines

Under the ‘renewed’ NCSP Clinical Guidelines published in 2016, women who have had an intermediate risk cervical screening result (HPV not-16/18 positive with reflex LBC prediction negative, pLSIL or LSIL) were recommended to have a follow-up HPV test at 12 months and be managed as higher risk, with  referral to colposcopy if any HPV was detected in a follow-up test.

In light of new evidence, it is now recommended that women with a 12 month follow-up HPV test result of HPV (not-16/18) detected, with LBC prediction of negative, pLSIL or LSIL be regarded as still at intermediate risk and undertake a second HPV follow-up test in a further 12 months’ time.

The new recommendation will avoid many women having to undergo unnecessary colposcopies as well as reducing associated harms (biopsy, overtreatment, anxiety and financial costs) for women with HPV‐related cervical abnormalities that would resolve spontaneously without medical intervention.

This recommendation was implemented, effective from 1 February 2021.

Online National Cancer Screening Healthcare Provider Portal - now active

The National Cancer Screening Register has released a portal for healthcare providers enabling access to screening information for participants of the National Cervical Screening Program (NCSP) and the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP).

The Register is also available for clinical information software integration with Best Practice, and MedicalDirector (tba). If you or your practice are users of one of the integration partner’s software, you can register your practice to enable National Cancer Screening Register functionality.

The portal enables:
• Healthcare providers to access screening information for participants of the National Cervical Screening Program (NCSP) and the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP), including those who have been invited to participate, but have not yet done so.
• Healthcare providers to manage their patients’ participation in the NCSP and NBCSP, including opting out and deferring their screening.
• General practitioners and other specialists to lodge clinical forms relating to both programs electronically.

Regional Champions Campaign

Find Cancer Early is running a new ‘Regional Champions’ campaign which features personal testimonies from champions highlighting common symptoms of cancer, and encouraging regional people to visit their GP, clinic nurse or Aboriginal health worker if they have an unusual symptom. Regional general practitioners may notice an increase in the number of patients visiting clinics to discuss possible cancer symptoms, particularly those highlighted in the campaign including, being short of breath, looser poo or problems peeing.

The Program of Experience in the Palliative Approach education opportunities for GPs

The Program of Experience in the Palliative Approach (PEPA) is providing free WA based clinical placements within a specialist palliative care setting (4-day duration). This opportunity is designed to assist GPs to incorporate the principles of palliative care into day-to-day practice. Please contact pepa@cancerwa.asn.au if you would like more information or to register your interest in a PEPA placement.

The program also offers six online training modules to support GP knowledge and skills in the practice of palliative care delivery.

Cancer Council warns against use of aerosol sunscreens

Primary care health professionals play an important role in promoting the prevention of skin cancer through encouraging patients to adopt sun protection behaviours. Alarming new research shows aerosol sunscreens are putting people at risk of sunburn. Research was conducted by Queensland University of Technology into nine popular commercially available aerosol sunscreen products. Results showed spray times required to achieve the level of UV protection as advertised on the aerosol product packaging and information, ranged from 4 to 14 seconds per limb or 29 to 98 seconds for a full body application.

Cancer Council together with the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, is urging Australians to avoid using aerosol sunscreens.