With the incidence of cervical cancer on the rise, doctors say prevention is the best way to combat the disease

Till recently, not many people were aware that cervical cancer kills 74,118 Indian women every year. A recent study found that from about a quarter of the five lakh cases globally, about 1.3 lakh new cases of cervical cancer are reported every year in India. Another study, conducted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) reveals that every year 74,118 women die due to the disease, while 1,32,082 women are diagnosed with this particular kind of cancer. Compared to the rest of the world, the growing risk of cervical cancer in women (aged 0-64 years) in India is 2.4 per cent. For women in other countries, this risk is about 1.3 per cent.

“The most important cause of cervical cancer is the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection. It is caused due to sexual activities with multiple partners and unprotected sex. Sex workers and women from younger age groups are prone to this cancer. Mostly, this cancer is observed in the lower socio-economic strata. Men may carry the virus and pass it on. The most prominent symptoms are bleeding in between menstrual cycles, bleeding post sexual activity, foul-smelling vaginal discharge,” informs Dr Shona Nag, oncologist with the Jehangir and Sahyadri Hospitals.

Cervical cancer is completely preventable, as it goes through several stages before developing into a malignant cancer. “It takes almost 10 years to reach the last stage. The most simple diagnosis for it is a cone biopsy. This can be done in a single day and is affordable, as it is priced between Rs 5000–10,000,” adds Dr Nag.

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