Cases of cervical cancer on the rise

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Dec 24 : Even though cases of cervical cancer have been rising steadily in the State, neither the people nor the Government has paid little attention to this medical problem.
According to the George Institute of Global Health, India accounts for 25 per cent of the deaths caused by cervical cancer across the world.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says that  around six lakh people get infected by cervical cancer around the world in a year and it is the 8th most common type of cancer.  
On the average, around 3.40 lakh people die of cervical cancer in the world and it is the 9th deadliest type of cancer.
Talking with The Sangai Express, Gynaecologist Dr Namoijam Basanti said that cervical cancer is caused by Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and this type of cancer is killing one woman every five minutes in India.
Generally cervical cancer is detected 10-15 years after a woman is infected by HPV.
Nonetheless, this form of cancer can be avoided if one is vaccinated and it can be detected in pre-cancer stage if screening is done in time which means the infection can be treated before it forms cancer, Dr Basanti said.
HPV screening (Pap Smear) should be done every three years after a woman gets married or starts sharing physical relationship with her partner. This screening should be done regularly until a woman is 70 years old, she said.
The screening report would show either LSIL (low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion) or HSIL (high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion). If the report shows LSIL, the woman can be vaccinated.
However, if the report indicates HSIL, it is necessary for the woman to undergo an HPV test. In case the HPV test turns positive, the woman is infected by HPV and she should start HPV treatment.
Infection by HPV does not necessarily mean one is suffering from cervical cancer but it does indicate high chances of the infection becoming cervical cancer, Dr Basanti said.
Screening for HPV is quite low in Manipur and very limited people are aware that cervical cancer can be avoided through vaccination, said the Gynaecologist.
Of all types of cancer which infect reproductive organs, cervical cancer is most common. It is the second most common type of cancer infecting women after breast cancer, she said.
Babina Hospital’s Senior Consultant Paediatric Dr Shyamkumar Laishram said that HPV vaccination has not been listed yet in Government’s immunization programmes.
If HPV vaccination is included in the Government’s vaccination programmes, it will go a long way in preventing cases of cervical cancer, he said.
There are two vaccines viz; 9v HPV and 4v HPV which can prevent the types of cancer caused by HPV.
A girl can be vaccinated with these vaccines on attaining 9 years. If the vaccination is done between 9 and 14 years, two doses of either of these vaccines separated by a gap of six months are enough.
If the vaccination is done after a girl is above 14 years, three doses must be administered within a period of six months.
One dose of 9v HPV now costs Rs 10,850 while 4v HPV is available at Rs 3950.
Considering the high costs of these vaccines and lack of awareness on the importance of vaccination against HPV, the rate of HPV vaccination is quite low in India including Manipur, Dr Shyamkumar said.      
HPV is an STD so men too can be vaccinated against HPV. If one is vaccinated, HPV can be prevented by almost 90 per cent.
Informing that Pap Smear facility is available at most Government hospitals in Manipur, Dr Namoijam Basanti rued that most HPV infected women come to hospitals only in late stages after the virus has become cancerous.
When women came with complaints of irregular menstruation, smelly menstrual blood, effusion of smelly fluid, loss of appetite,  dyssynergia, urination problems etc, many of them were found to be infected by cervical cancer, Dr Basanti said.
But very few women go  for regular screening until they suffer from these symptoms or problems. Even people working in the health sector have little awareness about HPV or cervical cancer, she said.
Meanwhile, many health activists have underscored the growing need for the Government to take up dedicated efforts towards prevention of cervical cancer.
The Government must take pro-active role in reducing and preventing cases of cervical cancer. Without paying proper attention to HPV and cervical cancer, the Government’s dream of creating a healthy Nation will remain a pipedream, the health activists added.