World Cancer Day: Middle Aged Indian Women Are At The Highest Risk of Cervical Cancer

Nearly 50% of middle-aged women in India were found to have positive cases of high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) - the main risk factor for cervical cancer, says a report from SRL Diagnostics. Human papillomavirus (HPV) could be a cluster of viruses that are very common worldwide. There are more than one hundred styles of HPV, of that a minimum of fourteen is cancer-causing that is also referred to as a risky type. The virus is principally transmitted through sexual contact and most of the people are infected with HPV shortly once the onset of sexuality.

Two HPV types (16 and 18) cause 70% of cervical cancers and malignant tumour cervical lesions. Analysis of HPV take a look at reports of 4,500 women pan-India between 2014 and 2018, showed that women aged between thirty-one and forty-five years the highest percentage of high-risk HPV at 47%. This was followed by 30% of women aged between 16 and 30 years being affected by the risk.

Cervical cancer accounts for one-third of all international deaths, with 74,000 deaths occurring annually and is that the second leading cause for cancer deaths among women in the Asian nation. However, "cervical cancer is additionally solely cancer that is preventable if care is taken within the initial stage", said B.R Das from SRL Diagnostics during a statement issued here on Saturday.

"The high mortality rate from cervical cancer globally may be reduced through a comprehensive approach that has screening, early designation and treatment programmes," he added. Besides vaccination, before girls become sexually active, secondary interference will be done by the regular cervical smear of PAP smear which can pick up any abnormal cells in the cervix before they become cancerous.

"While diagnostic test is way additional seemingly to miss a malignant tumour cervical illness, HPV testing is additional sensors for detecting localised infection and marginally less sensitive for distant infection," Das noted.

Also Read: Cervical Cancer in India: A Preventable Tragedy that Requires Urgent Attention