Cervical Cancer Awareness
Delay in screening may increase the risk
Cervical Cancer Awareness: Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers among Indian women. Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women in India. Cervical cancer is a cancer that occurs in the cells of the cervix.
The cancer in the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina is mostly caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). Lancet recently conducted a study on this disease.
According to this study, India has the highest number of cervical cancer cases, followed by China.
Research revealed that out of 40% of the total deaths due to cervical cancer, 23% occurred in India and 17% in China.
There were around 6,04,127 new cases and 3,41,831 deaths due to cervical cancer globally in 2020. Statistics show that cervical cancer is affecting women in India at an alarming rate.
This disease is the second most common cancer type in women in India.
According to research, about 8 out of 10 women in India have HPV (Human Papillomavirus).
It is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections. Cervical cancer is caused by this infection.
Worrying situation of cervical cancer in rural India
There are many deaths due to this disease in India. Despite this, there is a huge lack of proper and screening programs.
Apart from this, people are not aware about the availability of vaccine for cervical cancer. The situation in rural areas is even more worrying.
Most of the women here are not educated. They remain unaware of the dangers of cervical cancer.
Apart from this, the situation has taken a frightening form due to lack of quality screening and diagnosis.
Apart from this, the cost involved in the investigation is also a big reason for bringing cervical cancer to a dangerous level.
Apart from this, there are many myths and misconceptions related to this disease, due to which women are never able to openly talk about this issue.
In rural India, cervical cancer screening is largely avoided by women or their families due to lack of awareness and fear of undergoing the procedure.
Apart from the availability and cost of these facilities, there is also hesitation, ignorance and fear among women about HPV vaccines.
HPV and the role of vaccination
There is a lack of awareness and lack of acceptance in India regarding HPV vaccination. A simple HPV virus can give rise to dangerous cancer.
The association between HPV infection and cervical cancer was discovered in the early 1980s.
It is now proved that HPV infection gives rise to cervical cancer. There are many types of HPV virus. Among them HPV types 16 and 18 are responsible for 70% of cervical cancers worldwide.
Therefore, they have been identified as high-risk HPV viruses. They are called carcinogenic because they are known to be cancer-causing viruses.
According to doctors, you can reduce your risk of developing cervical cancer by getting vaccinated against HPV infection.
The good news is that the World Health Organization (WHO) recently said that India will soon introduce HPV vaccination to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem.
Meanwhile, the price of India's first indigenous cervical cancer vaccine is likely to be cheaper by Rs 200-400, making it very affordable for the public in India and they can get it.
Delay in screening is the biggest problem
Life can be saved if the diagnosis is done on time. Delay in screening for cervical cancer leads a large number of Indian women to death.
The Federation of Obstetric and Gynecological Societies of India (FOGSI) recommends the use of co-testing with combined cytology and HPV testing every 5 years as the best approach for cervical cancer screening.
Apart from this, co-testing leads to early diagnosis of CIN3 and cancer. Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 3 (CIN3), associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, is a dangerous condition even in the early stages of cervical cancer.
Experts also note that the inclusion of HPV with cytology helps find more AIS (adenocarcinoma in situ) than cytology alone, and that negative co-testing allows screening every five years. AIS of cervical cancer is a major precursor to cervical adenocarcinoma.
AIS clinically detects cervical cancer and the typical interval between initial attack appears to be at least five years, during which there is sufficient time to undergo screening and treatment.
In fact co-testing has been successfully implemented in developed countries such as the United States and recent data there show a steady decline in cervical cancer rates.
(Based on an interview by Dr. Sunita Kapoor, Consultant Pathologist, City Xray & Scan Clinic Pvt. Ltd.)
