Women can now test themselves for cervical cancer

Dr Wan Azizah (front, centre) being briefed by UM consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist Prof Dr Woo Yin Ling (front, left) on cervical cancer screening during the launch. Accompanying them are Prof Adeeba (front, right), Yeoh (behind Prof Woo) and Dr Dzulkefly (behind Dr Wan Azizah). — AZMAN GHANI/The Star

A new integrated technology-driven screening approach will enable women to get tested for cervical cancer in the comfort of their own homes – a pioneering effort to detect cervical cancer in its early stages.

ROSE (Removing Obstacles to Cervical Screening), the world’s first cervical screening programme featuring self-sampling by women themselves, is a human papilloma virus (HPV) DNA test – rather than a Pap smear diagnostic test that uses microscopy – and is based on an e-health platform.