Cervical Cancer - Indian Scenario
Cervical cancer
Cancer is the
uncontrolled growth of body cells and can start almost anywhere in the human
body. When cancer develops in the cervix of female it is termed as cervical
cancer or cancer cervix. Cervix is the lower part of the uterus and connects
the body of the uterus to the vagina (birth canal).The lower part of the cervix
(ectocervix) lies within the vagina and the upper two thirds of the cervix
(endocervix) lies above the vagina. Most cervical cancers originate in the area
where the endocervix and ectocervix join.
Cervical cancer is the
fourth most common cancer in women worldwide and second most common cancer in
women living in less developed regions. World Health Organization (WHO)
estimated 530 000 new cases of cervical cancer globally (estimations for 2012),
with approximately 270 000 deaths (representing 7.5% of all female cancer
deaths). More than 85% of these deaths occurred in low- and middle-income
countries.
The highest estimated
incidence rates for cervical cancer are in sub-Saharan Africa, Melanesia, Latin
America and the Caribbean, south-central Asia and south-east Asia.
India has a population
of 436.76 million women aged 15 years and older who are at risk of developing
cervical cancer. Every year 122844 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and
67477 die from the disease (estimations for 2012). In India cervical cancer is
the second most common cancer among women and also the second most common
cancer among women between 15 and 44 years of age.
Nearly all cases of
cervical cancer can be attributable to Human papillomavirus (HPV)
infection. HPV is a group of viruses and one of the causative agents in the
sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in men
and women with and without clinical lesions. HPV types (16 and 18) cause 70% of
cervical cancers and precancerous cervical lesions worldwide.
Based on Indian studies about 82.7% of invasive cervical cancers showed the presence of HPVs 16 or 18
Other epidemiological
risk factors for cervical cancer are early age at marriage, multiple sexual
partners, multiple pregnancies, poor genital hygiene, malnutrition, use of oral
contraceptives, and lack of awareness.
India also has the
highest (age standardized) incidence rate as 22 (per 100,000 women per year) of
cervical cancer in South Asia (estimations for 2012), compared to 19.2 in
Bangladesh, 13 in Sri Lanka, and 2.8 in Iran.
Cervical cancer can be
prevented by vaccinating all young females against the HPVs and by screening
and treating precancerous lesions in women. In addition if cervical cancer is
detected early and treated in earlier stages it can be cured
#drrajeshbollam #oncologist #Hematologist
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