The MUHC’s Dr. Annie Leung is transforming the standard of cervical cancer screening in Quebec

Did you know that cervical cancer is one of the few cancers that is largely preventable? Almost all cases are caused by Human Papillomavirus (HPV), a common virus that most people will encounter at some point in their lives. When HPV is detected early, cervical cancer can often be stopped before it ever begins. Yet for many individuals, the tools used to screen for the disease have not always caught it soon enough.

In Quebec, a long-awaited shift in cervical cancer screening is underway. The province is rolling out a new DNA-based HPV screening test that looks for the virus itself, rather than waiting for abnormal cervical cells to appear. More sensitive than the traditional Pap test, the new HPV test allows clinicians to identify risk earlier—often years before cancer can develop.

At the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), clinicians and researchers are now focused on the next critical question: how do we ensure this breakthrough reaches everyone, everywhere? With support from the MUHC Foundation, Dr. Annie Leung is working to take cervical cancer prevention one step further—by making screening less invasive and easier to access.

For Jennifer Curran, a member of the MUHC Foundation’s Women’s Health Committee, this work is deeply personal.

More than a decade ago, she was diagnosed with HPV and treated successfully. She was told she was clear and did everything she was supposed to do—attending regular Pap tests and follow-ups.

But the virus returned quietly.

Five years ago, while pregnant, Jennifer received devastating news: she had cervical cancer. Her daughter was delivered prematurely by C-section and spent time in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). At the same time, Jennifer underwent surgery to remove the cancer, followed by chemotherapy and radiation.

Today, she is cancer-free, but the experience changed her and her daughter’s story forever.

“A cancer diagnosis truly changes everything. If even one person can benefit from better screening,” Jennifer says, “that is what matters.”

Her experience reflects a reality clinicians know well. Pap tests have saved countless lives and dramatically reduced cervical cancer rates over the past 20-30 years. But because they rely on detecting abnormal cells, they can sometimes miss early infection—especially when changes are subtle or slow to appear. DNA-based HPV testing changes that.

“This new test is a game-changer,” says Dr. Leung. “Instead of waiting for abnormal cells, we are looking directly for the virus. That gives us the chance to act earlier, before cancer ever develops.”

The HPV DNA test is now available in all of Quebec’s 17 regions, and women can access screening by calling 811 or through their local CLSC. It is an important first step, but Dr. Leung believes it shouldn’t be the last.

“The future of screening is about access,” she explains. “We need to meet people where they are.”

That means exploring self-collected swabs and point-of-care testing that allow women to screen in the comfort of their own homes or closer to their communities—without the discomfort or barriers that can keep people from getting tested.

This is especially important for Indigenous women, who experience 3-4 times the rate of cervical cancer than the general population. Systemic barriers, remote locations, and lack of culturally safe care continue to limit access to screening.

To address this gap, Dr. Leung has partnered with Carrie Martin, Executive Director of the Indigenous Health Centre of Tiohtià:ke, to expand access to self-administered urine and vaginal swabs delivered through trusted, community-based settings. The goal is simple: remove barriers, respect autonomy, and make screening easier to access.

“This is precisely the type of work we support through the Forward Fund for Women’s Health,” says Marie-Hélène Laramée, President and CEO of the MUHC Foundation. “By investing in research that makes screening more accessible, we can help more women get the care they need, when it matters most.”

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