“Cervical Cancer” The Most Trending Topic After Poonam Panday Drama, I am sure a week ago if I asked you about “Cervical Cancer” your answer would have been I haven’t even heard its name so let’s see what cervical cancer is, what cervical cancer symptoms are.
Cervical cancer is the 2nd most common cancer in India and 8th most in the world. More than half of the women will have this infection and many come out of it but few do not account for the last stage findings of this cancer. However due to lack of knowledge lakhs of deaths are reported which can be prevented and curable cancer than other cancer types.
What is Cervical Cancer(Cervix Cancer)?:
The cervix is the lower part of the uterus that connects the vagina in women where abnormal cells are grown in huge (a process known as DYSPLASIA) which leads to cervix cancer who has a sexually transmitted infection Human Papillomavirus (HPV) which is treatable.
HPV is a group of 200 viruses that are treated effectively if found at any stage except for HPV–16 and HPV-18 which cannot be treated in later stages.
In most women, the immune system treats the growth of abnormal cells in the cervix which is prevented without the cause of cancer but in a few women, the immune system cannot prevent the growth of abnormal cells leading to cancer which needs attention. Symptoms will not come out in the early stage of cancer for all rather women should take tests to find out cancer which is the best way to avoid and cure cancer.
The simple way to detect this is ‘The HPV test’ and ‘The PAP test’ which also finds abnormal cells that may lead to cancer. This test should be done as early as possible between 21-29 years to find out before the early stages when abnormal cells grow in the cervix.
Cervical Cancer Symptoms:
- Unusual vaginal discharge: Change in consistency along with colour and odour.
- Abnormal vaginal bleeding: Bleeding occurs between periods and sex activity (also known as post-menopause).
- Pelvic pain: Continuous pelvic pain and discomfort in the cervix.
- Painful urination: pain and discomfort during urination.
- Changes in urinary or bowel habits: increased in frequency, and difficulty in urinary or bowel habits.
Are caused by Cervix Cancer which has been a serious issue in Indian women. Nearly 2 out of 3 women are facing this cancer with a rare condition leading to death.
Cervical Cancer Vaccine:
All cervix cancers are curable and preventable with effective management if detected in the early stage except for HPV-16 & and 18 with a high chance of death in later stages.
- Cervarix (bivalent) vaccine is used against HPV-16,18 with 2 doses between 9-14 years of s age
- Gardasil (quadrivalent) against HPV- 6,11,16 and 18 with 2 or 3 doses between 9-26 yrs.
- Cervavac (quadrivalent) is India’s first HPV vaccine launched in January 2023 used against the same 4 types of Gardasil.
Gardasil-4 per dose costs around Rs 4000 are available in private hospitals and the Cervavac vaccine is expected to range between Rs 200 to Rs 400 which is in the evaluation stage for inclusion in India’s national immunization program.
“This HPV vaccine can also prevent other HPV-related cancers like Anal, Vaginal, Vulvar and Oropharyngeal cancers.”
As per the US Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), HPV vaccinations can be given 2-dose series for persons aged 9-14 years and 3-dose series for persons aged 15-45 years along with immunocompromised persons. Even there are other methods like surgery, Chemotherapy and radiation therapy as per the CDC.
Conclusion:
About 200 lives are lost every day in India due to “Cervical Cancer”, which is preventable effectively but due to lack of knowledge on this cancer in public many are losing their lives. Lakhs of women are dying globally with new cases reported daily by cervix cancer which should be aware of.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced vaccination for girls aged between 9-14 against cervical cancer with initiatives like polio vaccination for free in schools that will be effective against HPV -16 & HPV-18 too in the interim budget 2024.
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Learn More About Cervical Cancer in detail – Here