January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month
Globally, cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women, with 604,000 new cases in 2020. About 90% of the 342,000 deaths from cervical cancer occurred in low- and middle-income countries .
CAUSE
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection that can affect the skin, genital area and throat. Almost all sexually active people will be infected at some point in their lives, usually without symptoms. In most cases, the immune system clears HPV from the body. Persistent infection with high-risk HPV can cause abnormal cells to develop, which can progress to cancer.
Prevention
- Vaccination at ages 9-14 is a very effective way to prevent HPV infection, cervical cancer, and other HPV-related cancers.
- Screening from age 30 (25 in women living with HIV) of cervical conditions, which, when treated, also prevent cervical cancer.
- At any age, if symptoms or concerns arise, early detection followed by prompt quality treatment can cure cervical cancer.
HPV vaccination and other preventive measures
There are 6 HPV vaccines available globally. All protect against high-risk HPV types 16 and 18, which cause most cervical cancers, and have been shown to be safe and effective in preventing HPV infection and cervical cancer.
Other important ways to prevent HPV infection include:
- being a non-smoker or giving up smoking
- the use of condoms
- voluntary male circumcision.
Detection of cervical cancer and treatment of precursor lesions
Women should be screened for cervical cancer every 5-10 years starting at age 30. Women living with HIV should be screened every 3 years starting at age 25.
Early detection, diagnosis and treatment of cervical cancer
Cervical cancer can be cured if it is diagnosed and treated in the early stages of the disease. Recognizing the symptoms and seeking medical advice to address any concerns is a critical step.
The World Health Organization’s response
All countries are committed to eliminating cervical cancer as a public health problem. The WHO Global Strategy defines elimination as reducing the number of new cases annually to 4 or fewer per 100,000 women and sets three targets to be achieved by 2030 to put all countries on the path to elimination in the coming decades:
90% of girls vaccinated with HPV vaccine by age 15
70% of women tested with a high-quality test by the age of 35 and 45
90% of women affected by cervical conditions, to receive adequate treatment.
Source: World Health Organization
2024-01-10 18:11:11
#January #Cervical #Cancer #Awareness #Month #fourth #common #cancer #women
