On Cervical Cancer – How Indian Women Can Avoid of Cervical Cancer

Source: This post on Cervical Cancer has been created based on the article “How Indian women can rid themselves of cervical cancer” published in “Indian Express” on 16^th January 2024.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 2 Social Justice – Issues relating to Health.

News: The article discusses the causes, prevention and cure of cervical cancer. It highlights the steps taken by the government in this regard and suggests steps to augment cervical care in India.

Background:

The government is planning to include cervical cancer vaccine in the universal immunization program. The vaccination campaign targeted at girls in the 9-14 age group is likely to commence this year.

Read more on this here.

Reason of Cervical Cancer?

How Indian Women Can Avoid of Cervical Cancer? The main cause is the presence of high-risk type of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection.

The risk of its progression to cancer also rises due to factors like; a) low socio-economic conditions; b) low immunity status; c) other genital infections; d. smoking.

Is Cervical Cancer Preventable And Curable?

Cervical cancer is both preventable and curable if detected early.

Prevention: Cervical cancer can be prevented through HPV vaccination of girls.
Cervical cancer has a long pre-invasive phase (from introduction of the virus to developing cancer) that lasts for 10–15 years. This gives a window of opportunity to detect and treat it.

Cure: When cervical cancer is detected and managed at an early stage, it is found to have over 93% cure rate.

What Factors Lead to High Mortality In The Case of Cervical Cancer in India?

1) Lack of Detection in the Early Stages: This is due to: a. Lack of awareness. b. Fear of cancer. c. Early symptoms of disease are not evident. d. Women not being screened.

2) Dropping out of Patients: People not completing their treatment post-screening.

WHO Strategy to Prevent Cervical Cancer?

It is along three pillars:

1. Widespread HPV vaccination.
2. Screening of women.
3. Early diagnosis and treatment of cervical pre-cancer and cancer.

What Has The government Done in This Regard?

1. Cancer screening by trained nurses in primary health centers.
2. Screening tools like visual screening tests and HPV tests are simple and easily available.
3. Evidence-based management algorithms are in place for guidance (methods that rely on the best available evidence to guide decision-making).

What More Needs to Be Done?

1. Raise Awareness: Awareness on the causes as well as prevention methods for cervical cancer, HPV vaccine (overcoming vaccine hesitancy), and regarding screening is needed.
2. Capacity Building: Capacity building for pre-cancer treatment, quality cancer treatment and palliative services (care for the terminally ill) and the entire health system is required.
3. Incorporating New Technologies: New developments like single dose HPV vaccination, self-sampling for HPV testing, use of AI for diagnosis and treatment should be incorporated.
4. Strengthening Health Insurance: Mechanisms to reduce the financial burden for care should be strengthened.
5. Cooperation with Civil Society: Strengthening of partnerships with NGOs working in communities, innovators developing new methods of testing, and public health professionals.
6. Collaborations and partnerships in the latest research is important.
7. Incorporating Best Practices: Adopting successful models in community outreach and care pathways.

Question for practice:

What are the steps taken by the government to prevent cervical cancer in India? What more needs to be done?