Cervical Cancer – Symptoms, Diagnosis, Prevention for Indian Women - Dr Shweta Tahlan

Cervical Cancer (Cervix cancer) is the cancer originating in the lower part of uterus. Cervical Cancer is the second most common cancer affecting Indian women. 

It is a highly preventable cancer and we have two strategies to save our women from this deadly disease. 

1.  HPV vaccination - It reduces the risk of developing precancer and cancer caused by HPV. As most cervical cancers are caused by high risk HPV, HPV vaccination is a strong tool in our fight against this disease. It is recommended to be given from 9 to 26 years, although 9-14 years is the ideal time to give the vaccine. Vaccines are safe, affordable, have been given to millions of women worldwide and are recommended by World Health Organisation. The vaccines are gender neutral, can be given to both girls and boys, as it prevents against all HPV related cancers. 

2. Screening - All women over the age of 25 years are advised to undergo cervical screening at regular intervals even if they have no symptoms. Screening is done by Pap smear and HPV test. These tests are safe, painless and are done in OPD within minutes. The target of screening is to detect patients at precancer stage (when cancer has not yet developed) where patients can be cured altogether by simple surgical procedures. 

    

Cervical Cancer Symptoms:

It's important to know the symptoms of this disease so that one can to go to the gynaecologist at earliest for checkup. Any vaginal bleeding or spotting after sexual intercourse (postcoital bleeding) or in between two periods (intermenstrual bleeding), after achieving menopause (post menopausal bleeding) needs to be checked. Other symptoms are irregular periods, persistent vaginal discharge, post menopausal vaginal discharge, pelvic pain, pain during sex. 

Cervical Cancer Diagnosis: 

The diagnosis is done by cervical biopsy. Colposcopy is done along with cervical biopsy to detect precancer lesions in women with abnormal screening tests or in those with suspicious clinical features by oncologists. 

Cervical Cancer Treatment: 

Cervical cancer is highly treatable with good survival outcomes in early stages by surgery. In advanced cases, we give radiotherapy and chemotherapy to treat the disease. Individualised treatment is given to every patient depending on clinical findings, biopsy report and imaging features. 

Cervical Cancer Prevention:  

Cervical cancer is a preventable, easily detectable and treatable cancer. HPV vaccination and regular screening are the key components in its prevention. Awareness about the symptoms and clinical examinations help in early detection which leads to better treatment outcomes.