Cervical cancer is highly preventable, yet hundreds of thousands of women still die each year, especially in underserved communities. Barriers like cost, limited access, cultural stigma, and systemic inequities keep many from lifesaving screening. In this episode, we explore the disparities holding women back—and how solutions like mobile clinics, education, and culturally competent care can close the gap.

Persistent high-risk HPV drives cervical and other cancers—but testing is becoming smarter, faster, and more accessible. From CRISPR-based diagnostics and lab-on-a-chip devices to simple self-collected samples, new tools are making early detection possible even in low-resource settings. In this episode, we explore how innovation is transforming HPV testing and the future of cancer prevention.

HPV is the leading cause of cervical cancer—and it’s a master of immune evasion. By silencing alarm signals and hiding infected cells, HPV can persist for years, raising cancer risk. In this episode, we reveal how the virus escapes detection and why vaccination is the strongest defense against long-term infection and disease.

The HPV vaccine works best when given early—ages 9–14 offer up to 93% protection, while effectiveness drops in older teens. In this episode, we explain why earlier vaccination gives stronger, longer-lasting protection against HPV infections, genital warts, and cervical cancer—and why global health authorities recommend starting as young as 9.

Sex plays a role in outcomes for throat cancer—but HPV status changes the picture. Research shows women fare worse than men with HPV-negative cancers, while HPV-positive cancers erase those differences, leveling survival rates. In this episode, we dive into how HPV reshapes prognosis and why sex-based disparities matter for treatment and research.

Vaccination alone could drive cervical cancer elimination in many countries—but in high-burden regions, it’s not enough. Modeling shows that 90% HPV vaccination + twice-lifetime screening could cut incidence by 96.7%, avert 74 million cases, and speed elimination by decades. In this episode, we explore how combining vaccines and screening can create a cancer-free future.

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted HPV vaccination programs worldwide, erasing over 25% of progress since 2019—especially in Africa. In this episode, we explore how countries are rebooting campaigns, tackling myths, resuming school-based delivery, and testing new strategies like single-dose schedules to build stronger, more resilient systems for the future of global HPV vaccination.

Could AI revolutionize cervical cancer screening? A new AI Cervical Cancer Screening (AICCS) system analyzes digital Pap smears with speed and accuracy comparable to human experts—boosting sensitivity by 13% and cutting reading time. In this episode, we explore how AI can fill the global pathologist gap, improve diagnosis, and expand access to life-saving screening.