Eliminating HPV-caused cancers in Europe: Achieving the possible

The 690,000 cases of cancer caused worldwide each year by HPV (human papillomavirus) are among the easiest of all cancers to prevent. However, the actions so far taken in terms of both policy and practice by health systems in many European states have neither matched the scale of the problem nor seized the opportunities for disease prevention potentially offered by vaccination and screening. Treatments for HPV-caused cancers are also inequitably provided across the region and widespread misinformation about HPV undermines efforts to improve public health. The European Cancer Organisation's HPV Action Network has made the case for action for the elimination of all the cancers caused by HPV through gender-neutral vaccination, effective cervical cancer screening, better quality treatments, and public and professional education across Europe. The World Health Organisation's new global strategy for the elimination of cervical cancer (launched in November 2020), together with Europe's Beating Cancer Plan (February 2021), together provide a major opportunity to tackle decisively all the cancers caused by HPV. The Beating Cancer Plan, which was significantly influenced by evidence provided by the HPV Action Network, commits to supporting EU member states' efforts to extend routine vaccination of girls and boys and to creating a new EU-supported Cancer Screening Scheme to help Member States ensure that 90% of the EU population who qualify for cervical cancer screening are offered it by 2025. The goal of HPV cancer elimination is now both possible and achievable. The challenge is to ensure implementation and delivery by EU member states and more widely across the European region.