Dr Pronab Dasgupta, Consultant Gynaecologist and Obstetrician, AMRI Hospitals, Kolkata, gives an insight about cervical cancer and tests required to prevent it
Cervical cancer arising from the female organ cervix is one of the most incidence cancers of women. Women within the age group of 35 to 45 years are the most common victims of this cancer. Every year more than one lakh new cases of cervical cancer are reported in the world. In India it is nearly 75,000.
Cervical cancer of many remains undiagnosed. Almost one fourth of the total casualty due to this disease in the world happens in India. In 80 per cent of the cases infection of human papillomavirus or HPV is the reason behind cervical cancer. Generally, in our country most of the women gets infected from their husband. In the west, polygamy is the main reason. The rate of cervical cancer in our country is high due to early marriage among women before they attain an age of 18 years.
Pap smear test is the most commonly used diagnostic test for cervical cancer where the test is carried with swab from the cervix. It is a painless test. Biopsy is done with the cells from cervix. If the result becomes positive then colposcopy is done and then cone biopsy. There are many treatment procedures like laser surgery, loop electrical excision procedure or LEEP, cryosurgery etc. In some cases hysterectomy is required. After surgery radiotherapy and chemotherapy may also be administered.
Nowadays, an immunisation process is done to prevent cervical cancer. Though it can be administered even at the age of nine years, doctors suggest it before marriage. At an old age it should be done only after the pap smear test. If the results are negative then immunisation should be started. Three doses are there. Second one is after two months from the first one and the third one is after six months. Chances of cervical cancer are reduced to five per cent if anyone is immunised. There’s no better way if any cancer is being prevented. For greater precaution every woman should undergo pap smear test in every alternate two years.
With the advancement of science, a new vaccine by the name of Gardasil vaccine has been developed and have to be applied on the first second and and after the sixth month.