Cervical Cancer: Aware but busy

A global cervical cancer survey conducted to explore women’s attitudes towards cervical cancer, specifically the barriers preventing women from acknowledging their personal risk of the disease and from taking action to help protect themselves, revealed that women in India are aware of cervical cancer and understand the importance of screening and vaccination but they are prioritising other things like their work, personal appearance and social life above their cervical health.The survey was conducted with over 18,000 women aged 18-55 across 19 countries including; Belgium, Brazil, Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, India, Indonesia, Italy, Lebanon, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, Poland, Romania, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain and Sweden. In India alone, 1,009 women were surveyed. It comprised of 20 closed questions and was conducted online and via telephone.About the cancer Cervical Cancer is a cancer of the cervix. The cervix is located at the entrance of the uterus and it helps to prevent infections from reaching the uterus2.Cervical Cancer is the No. 1 cause of cancer-related deaths amongst women in India and is even more common than Breast Cancer. In fact, every year, more than 72000 women in India die due to Cervical Cancer.3It is caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). It is estimated that up to 80 per cent of women will acquire an HPV infection and 50 per cent of those infections will be with a cancer-causing HPV type.The objective of vaccination is to help prevent HPV infections and the objective of screening is to detect pre-cancerous lesions due to HPV infection. Combination of vaccination with screening could reduce the absolute lifetime risk of cervical cancer by 94 per cent compared with no intervention.Dr Ashwini Bhalerao Gandhi, Consultant Gynaecologist Hinduja Hospital in Mumbai agrees that, “Women nowadays are putting their health-related issues on the back burner in their endeavour to balance their professional and personal lives. They should prioritise their cervical health and talk to a gynaecologist. Women can take action now to protect themselves from Cervical Cancer by attending their Pap (cervical) screening and asking their gynecologist about vaccination to protect themselves against the disease. Vaccination alongside screening is the best possible way to protect against Cervical Cancer.”