cervical cancer: Why it remains a prevalent threat for Indian women
Cervical cancer strikes terror in the hearts of many women in India as it remains the second most common form of cancer affecting females in the country. According to top oncologist Dr. Smita Gupta of Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Delhi, approximately 1 in 53 Indian women are at risk of being diagnosed with cervical cancer at some point in their lives. So what drives these alarming cervical cancer rates among women in the subcontinent?
Causative link to HPV
Dr. Gupta explains that cervical cancer is strongly tied to certain strains of the human papillomavirus or HPV. This common sexually transmitted virus is the primary cause of nearly 90% of all cervical cancer cases worldwide. Through intimate contact, HPV easily spreads between partners and persists silently in the body for years before possibly triggering abnormal cell changes in the cervix.
Treatment challenges
For locally-advanced cervical cancers, surgery to remove the uterus and lymph nodes remains a standard treatment option. However, fertility-preserving alternatives that remove only the cervix present conflicting outcomes according to long-term studies. Meanwhile, radiation therapy with or without chemotherapy provides an alternative for locally-invasive tumors, though newer modalities are still being tested. Immunotherapies also show promise but more evidence is needed regarding their use particularly for early-stage diseases. Overall, overcoming cervical cancer remains a work in progress.
Prevention through screening
The expert stresses that regular pelvic examinations and Pap smear tests, recommended once every 3 years for women between 25-65 years, enable detection of precancerous lesions in the cervix at a treatable stage. When caught early through screening, cervical cancer has a 5-year survival rate of over 90%. Raising awareness about the availability of these simple tests and empowering women about prioritizing their health can significantly curb India’s cervical cancer burden in the future.
