The Cancer which Kills Women Silently – How to Prevent it?

Abstract

Cancer is one of the biological threats to men and women. It is characterized by an abnormal growth of cells, which has the ability to invade the adjacent tissues and organs. There are various types of cancer peculiar to women, among which cervical and breast cancer are highly reported. Next to breast cancer, cervical cancer remains the most common in women worldwide. Cervical cancer is the fifth most common cancer of the world and third most common cancer in the women globally. Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of cancer bereavements in women aged 15-44 years in India. Mortality due to cervical cancer is greater in Indian Women than in Women of other country, that is 85% of cases present in advanced and late stages when diagnose has been made. According to global cancer statistics, cervical cancer is now the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the fourth leading cause of cancer death in females worldwide. More than 86% of these cases occur in developing countries. India has a population of 432.20 million women aged 15 years and above who are at risk of emerging cervical cancer. Recent estimates indicate that every year 122,844 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 67,477 die from the disease, it indicates that every hour 8 women are dying due to this cancer (WHO 2012). Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection which causes a wide range of disease from warts to cancer. HPV is a double stranded DNA virus, more than 10 human and animal papilloma virus genotypes have been characterized and sequenced. Approximately 30 HPVs infect the ano-genital tract, of these 15 HPV types are classified as high risk types (HPV types 16, 1, 31, 33, 35, 39, 5, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59 68, 73, and 82) and they are associated with high grade cervical cancer, precancerous lesions and invasive cervical cancers. HPV vaccine is one of the recommended interventions for cervical cancer World-wide .After implementation of National cervical Screening Programme in Australia in 1991, the incidence of cervical cancer reduced from 18% (1991-2002) to 6-7% (2014) per 100,000 populations. The focus on detection and prevention of cervical cancer must be emphasized in a highly populated country like India. A national HPV vaccination program appears to be practically possible as compared to screening program in India.