Survive Cervical Cancer!!!

Cancer that forms in tissues of the cervix (the organ connecting the uterus and vagina). It is usually a slow-growing cancer that may not have symptoms but can be found with regular Pap tests (a procedure in which cells are scraped from the cervix and looked at under a microscope). Cervical cancer is almost always caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.
The cervix is the opening of the uterus connected to the upper vagina. It is known as the neck of the uterus. The lower end of the cervix has an opening called the external os, and before childbirth it is about 5mm in diameter. It dilates to 10cm during labour  to allow for childbirth and never regains its former shape, changing to a slit approximately 7mm long.  Normally the cervix is pink in colour but turns bluish in pregnancy because of an increased blood supply.The cancer cells may be present in the cervix for 4-10 years before becoming invasive, affecting the deeper tissues and giving rise to symptoms. Even when the cancer is invasive , there is an 80% chance of successful cure. Once it spreads through the pelvis to the vagina, uterus, bladder or rectum, it is much more difficult to cure.

Cervical Cancer Symptoms

    * Abnormal bleeding. Women with cervical cancer may experience abnormal vaginal bleeding. This can be heavy or light bleeding during the month.

    * Unusual heavy discharge. An increased vaginal discharge is also a symptom of cervical cancer. It may be foul smelling, watery, thick, or contain mucus. It varies from woman to woman. It is important to report any unusual vaginal discharge to your doctor.

    * Pelvic pain. Pelvic pain that is not related to the normal menstrual cycle can be a cervical cancer symptom. Many women describe them ranging from a dull ache to sharp pains that can last hours. It can be mild or severe.

    * Pain during urination. Bladder pain or pain during urination can be a symptom of advanced cervical cancer. This cervical cancer symptom usually occurs when cancer has spread to the bladder.

    * Bleeding between regular menstrual periods, after sexual intercourse, douching, or pelvic exam. Bleeding after sexual intercourse, douching, or pelvic exam can be cervical cancer symptoms. This is due to the irritation of the cervix during these activities. While a healthy cervix may have a very small amount of bleeding, many conditions may cause bleeding after activities like sex.



The way by which this cancer is growing in our country is alarming. We need to keep a vigil and stay careful as to it does not happen to the people around us as well as to ourselves.
A lot has been done for its cure everywhere around the world.
Here are some facts and figures -

MSD Pharmaceuticals Pvt Ltd, launched the world's only vaccine, Gardasil, in India recently to prevent fatal onslaught of cervical cancer.

India has the highest number of cervical cancer in the world, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a part of the World Health Organisation (WHO). It affects only women, mostly in late 40s or early 50s, through human contact. Every year, around 74, 000 patients die in the country out of 1,32,000 women diagnosed with this deadly disease.

"Across the world, around 2,80,000 women die of this disease every year and 27% of these deaths occur in India alone," said Anjana Narain, director (vaccine) of MSD. The virus called Human Papillomavirus (HPV), which infects mostly women, causes the disease. This virus gets transmitted through sexual contact and even preventive measures like contraceptives cannot prevent it from entering a woman's body, said Partho Basu, head of the department of gynaecological oncology, Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute.

"From infection, the virus takes 15-20 years to develop and attack as cervical cancer in a woman's body, so the preventive vaccine should be administered from the age of 9-26 years, so by the time a girl reaches her late 40s she is safeguarded," Basu added.

Gardasil(vaccine for Cervical) is available in more than 100 countries(including India) now. "It was introduced by Merck & Co Inc in 2006 first in the US and since then, 36 million doses have been administered to women living across 108 countries," said Narain. A one-time dose given thrice in a span of a year, the vaccine should be administered between the age of 9 and 26 years, with per dose coming at a price of Rs 2,800. This type of cancer takes more life than any other form in the world, she added.

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