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Only 10-20 percent of the Indian women in rural areas have awareness about cervical cancer, even if it is the fourth most common cause of death among women, said a survey. Here is everything you need to know about cervical cancer.
According to the survey, an estimated 62,416 cervical cancer deaths were reported across the world in 2015, which is the eight per cent of the total deaths caused by cancer altogether. The peak age of incidence of cervical cancer is 55-59 years, and a considerable proportion of women report in the late stages of the disease. The survey also states that the reasons that trigger cervical cancer, include smoking, a weak immune system, birth control pills, starting sex at a young age, and also having many sexual partners. Identify cervical cancer before it is too late!
'Majority of the cases emerge because women do not undergo screening. Cervical cancer screening should be started at the age of 21 years. How often you should have cervical cancer screening depends on your age and health history,' said Nupur Gupta, gynaecologist and obstetrician at Well Women Clinic. She advised women aged 21-29 years should have a Pap test, used for screening of the disease, every three years, while women aged 30-65 should have this and HPV tests every five years. Know why cervical cancer is preventable yet prevalent in India.
'HPV vaccines protect against between two and seven high-risk strains of this family of viruses and may prevent up to 90 per cent of cervical cancers,' said Gupta. Know about the various treatment options of cervical cancer in our country. Gauri Mathur of All India Institute of Medical Sciences(AIIMS) said: 'Today the situation of cervical cancer is such in India that they account for the largest proportion of women deaths in India apart from breast cancers. But still there is no awareness. The government has been evaluating
Gauri Mathur of All India Institute of Medical Sciences(AIIMS) said: 'Today the situation of cervical cancer is such in India that they account for the largest proportion of women deaths in India apart from breast cancers. But still there is no awareness. The government has been evaluating introduction of a cervical cancer vaccine as part of its immunisation drive to prevent the disease among women. At present, there are three vaccines that are available to prevent human papillomavirus (HPV) types that cause cervical cancer. However, women are not entirely aware about it due to which they continue to suffer,' she said. This is how 70% cervical cancers can be treated in a single prick!
News source: IANS
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