Hamirpur (HP), Jan 14 (FN Agency) The most successful strategy for cervical cancer prevention is screening women with cervical cytology which is a routine test called a Pap smear, this tool has led to the detection of thousands of cancer cases, said Dr Naresh Puohit, Advisor, National Cancer Control Programme on Saturday. He said today that despite being a rather recalcitrant tool, the ‘Pap smear’ is today the major cancer screening technology in the world. Speaking to UNl here after virtually addressing a webinar on “Cervical Cancer Control- A long way to go” organized by the Mandi-based Atal Medical Research University (AMRU) the acclaimed epidemiologist and preventive oncology expert said that Pap smear is a well-established and well-organized-national population – based screening programme implemented in developed countries over last 50 years. As a result of early diagnosis and treatment, the cervical cancer rate and death are greatly decreased in those countries.
“Increased awareness about the availability of a vaccine, good hygiene and regular screening to ward off or combat the second-most common cancer among women. “He said Principal Investigator for the association of studies for cancer care Dr Purohit stated that about 1.3 lakh women die in India from cervical cancer, while the number of deaths in the world is about 5 lakh.” “About 26 per cent of the deaths in the world occur in India, and yet, there is lack of awareness on the availability of vaccines for cervical cancer, as well as lack of proper, structured screening programmes,” he averred. He pointed out that HIV-positive person is at high risk for cervical cancer. The change from the acquisition of HPV infection to cancer may take 15-20 years or even longer.
Among women with persistent HPV infection, the high-risk factors for the development of invasive cancer are immunosuppression, co-infection with other sexually transmitted infections, early age of onset of sexual activity, early age of first pregnancy, multiple pregnancies, multiple sexual partners, tobacco use in any form and hormonal contraceptives. “The incidence of cervical cancer is still alarming in rural areas, where a majority of women are illiterate and have poor hygienic conditions,” he revealed. Experts in the webinar said that the government has announced that it will roll out vaccines for the prevention of cervical cancer to girls aged between 9 and 14 years through schools. “The National Technical Advisory Group for Immunization (NTAGI) had recommended the introduction of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP). The indigenous HPV vaccine, called CERVAVAC, is likely to be rolled out by mid-2023.” they informed.