Gynaecologic cancer refers to any form of cancer that appears in a woman’s reproductive system. Gynaecologic cancers are often discussed collectively, yet each is unique and has its own symptoms, warning signals, and adverse outcomes. The five main types of gynaecological cancer are cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal, and vulvar, with cervical cancer being one of the major health issues for women worldwide.
Cervical Cancer : Major threat
Over 1 lakh new instances of cervical cancer are detected each year, as per Globocan 2020. 85% of reported cases in underdeveloped countries, where impoverished women are far more susceptible to the disease. It is the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide.
Women frequently put off trying to obtain healthcare attention unless it is way too long, causing them to succumb to an extremely curable and avoidable form of cancer. Kakoli Lahkar, Consultant – Medical Oncology, Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road. She claims this is because of a lack of knowledge, schooling, and wider societal stigma.
The cells of the cervix, the lower portion of the uterine that attaches to the vaginal, are where ovarian cancer develops. The state’s health department gathered information on the number of fatalities. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most significant threat element for cervical cancer and is a frequent occurrence.
The highest common age at which cervical cancer deaths are reported is 35, according to a study of age-specific data. One-third of the 1,325 fatalities were women, and they ranged in age from 55 to 64. Hardly are deaths of women under 20 reported. But according to medical professionals, a lot of these deaths would have been spared if they had received the HPV vaccine. Approximately 93 percent of cancer cases can be avoided with the HPV vaccine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP).
Does Doctor Recommend HPV Vaccine To Prevent Cervical Cancer?
Human papillomavirus represents the most major threat cause for cervical cancer and is a frequent disease. Most infection start when a person begins to consent to sex, and also most patients heal from the infection without any issues. Over 100 different HPV subtypes exist, not all of which are associated with malignancy. HPV16 and HPV18 are the HPV kinds, or strains, that are most frequently linked to cervical cancer. People who have several sexual partners are more likely to contract HPV.
Doctors emphasise the necessity for the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which prevents cervical cancer and results in an average of over 700 fatalities annually, to be included in the nationwide vaccination programs in order to prevent more women from dying from the cancer.
Doctor’s words
Vaccines already in use have shown to be effective worldwide in avoiding ovarian cancer. Therefore, it stands to reason that its inclusion in the voluntary vaccination programmed for girls would assist to lower the number of deaths.
According to Dr. Limaye, the major obstacles to identifying ovarian cancer are ignorance, a shortage of medical facilities, the expense of screenings, socioeconomically disadvantaged status, and an education deficit. Women should also undertake routine cervical PAP smear screening… The HPV test might well be performed in some instances in place of a Smear test, he continued.
