Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer related deaths in developing countries, and remains the most common gynecological cancer and the third most common malignancy in women worldwide, a Senior Consultant Clinical Oncologist in Apollo Cancer Hospitals, Hyderabad, Dr Anand Reddy, has disclosed.
Dr Reddy, who recently made this disclosure, asserted that the highest incidences tend to occur in populations with low screening rates combined with a high background prevalence of human papilloma virus (HPV) infection and liberal attitudes towards sexual behaviour.
He stated that the risk factors associated with increasing predisposition for cervical cancer includes initiation of sexual intercourse at young age, multiple sexual partners, poor access to healthcare, presence of infections such as HPV,HIV, among others. He explained that human papilloma virus (HPV) is a double stranded DNA virus that can be easily spread through direct sexual contact from skin and mucous membranes of the infected people, adding that it is estimated that more than 90 per cent of cervical cancers are related to the presence of HPV, which according to him, is now accepted as a necessary cause of most cervical cancers.
Dr Reddy noted further that regular screening of women between the ages of 21 and 65 years with pap smear test decreases their chance of dying from cervical cancer, adding that females less than 21 years of age should not be screened regardless of the age at sexual initiation.
He disclosed that Quadrivalent vaccine (HPV 6,11,16,18 and Bivalent vaccine (HPV 16,18) are the two FDA approved vaccines against HPV, saying the best way to prevent cervical cancer is to get routine cervical cancer screening as recommended.
By: Gabriel Oshokha
Tribune News
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