Watch the CTV News feature
CTV News: Cervical Cancer Rates Rise Among Canadian Women Despite Advances in Screening. The feature starts at 9:23.
Watch on YouTubeDr. Julie Ann Francis, Co-Founder and Clinical Lead at Basia Medical, was featured in a national CTV News report examining why cervical cancer rates are rising among Canadian women aged 35–54, despite major advances in HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening.
News & Media ·
By Basia Medical · Updated
Dr. Francis, MD, FRCSC, is Division Head of Gynecologic Oncology at Lakeridge Health and cervical cancer screening lead for Ontario Health’s Central East region. She brings more than 15 years of experience in cervical cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment to the discussion.
Learn more about Dr. Julie Ann Francis, Basia Medical’s Co-Founder and Clinical Lead.
Cervical cancer is preventable. So why are rates rising?
According to the Canadian Cancer Society, an estimated 1,700 women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer in Canada in 2026, with approximately 450 deaths expected.
The concerning trend comes as cervical screening has undergone significant improvements, including the transition toward more sensitive HPV-based testing.
Yet many women are still not being screened regularly. Limited access to primary care, discomfort with traditional cervical examinations, and difficulties navigating the healthcare system remain important obstacles to prevention.
In the CTV News feature, Dr. Francis discusses how screening technology has evolved, alongside the continuing challenge of ensuring women receive appropriate care when abnormalities are detected.
Addressing the barriers to cervical cancer screening
These challenges are central to the work underway at Basia Medical, where Dr. Francis serves as Co-Founder and Clinical Lead.
Through the development of Safi, a new cervical examination and sampling device, and Wema, a digital health platform, Basia is working to make cervical cancer screening more comfortable, accessible, and practical for patients and healthcare providers.
As Canada works toward eliminating cervical cancer by 2040, improving screening participation and access to care will be essential alongside continued advances in HPV vaccination and testing.
Explore cervical cancer in Canada: screening and new technologies, including Safi’s speculum-free screening platform and Wema’s approach to screening follow-up. Both products are in development and not yet available.
Read the full article
Source: CTV News, October 31, 2026. Reporting by Heather Wright.