Abstract
Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women worldwide. First priority to reduce deaths from cervical cancers is to implement high quality, fully organised screening programmes without delay. Knowledge about cervical cancer and Pap testing influences uptake of cervical cancer screening services. Screening and treatment for precancerous lesions is a more cost-effective intervention compared to management of invasive cervical cancer. Human papillomavirus is the etiologic agent of virtually all cases of cervical cancer worldwide. All women 30 years and older should be routinely screened &screening should continue until the age of 65 years. By reducing the smear interval from 5 to 3 years in the age group < 50 years, the risk reduction for cervical cancer could be improved. About 16% of the world′s total cases occur in india. At current incidence rates, the annual burden of new cases in India is projected to increase to 225,000 by 2025. However,the screening coverage in india is low upto 2.6-5 percent.Of all the screening tests available, the three main screening procedures commonly employed are Papanicolaou smears (Pap smears), visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) and HPV testing . It has also been worked out that ‘once in a lifetime’ screening would result in reduction of 20-30% of the lifetime risk of cervical cancer. Health education is the most cost-effective approach in reducing the incidence of cervical carcinoma in developing countries like India.
Highlights
Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women worldwide
Cervical cancer is a preventable disease because invasive cancer is preceded by a long preinvasive stage, which may be diagnosed and treated, & the lesion is available for examination by simple methods [3]
About 65% of subjects with invasive cervical cancer had never had a pap smear done until diagnosis [7]
Summary
Cervical cancer is a preventable disease because invasive cancer is preceded by a long preinvasive stage, (upto 10 years) which may be diagnosed and treated, & the lesion is available for examination by simple methods [3]. Women who are not screened run a higher risk of developing cervical cancer [4]. Detection of pre-cancerous lesions through cytological screening is the mainstay for global control of the disease. The incidence and mortality have markedly decreased after the introduction of cytologic cervical cancer screening [5]. Our first priority to reduce deaths from cervical cancers is to implement high quality, fully organised screening programmes. Manuscript Received: 1st Sept 2015 Reviewed: 14th Sept 2015 Author Corrected: 27th Sept 2015 Accepted for Publication: 30th Sept 2015
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