A recent Lancet study on the disease shows that India has the most cases of cervical cancer in Asia, followed by China.? India accounted for 23% of all cervical cancer-related deaths While China for 17%.
The study noted, ¡°More than 58% of all cases of cervical cancer globally were estimated in Asia followed by Africa (20%), Europe (10%) and Latin America (10%) and more than half of deaths were estimated in Asia (58%) followed by Africa (22%), and Latin America (9%). Around 39% of all cases occurred in China (18%) and India (21%) and 40% of total deaths from cervical cancer (17% in China; 23% in India).¡±
The estimates of The Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN) for the year 2020 serve as the foundation for the study, which takes into account both temporal and geographical aspects of development.
Cervical cancer occurs in the cells of the cervix, which is the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina. The majority of cervical cancer is caused by a number of different Human papillomavirus (HPV) strains.?
The body's immune system typically stops the virus from causing harm when it is exposed to HPV. However, the virus can survive for years in a small number of people, contributing to the process by which some cervical cells become cancerous.
India reported approximately 21% of all cervical cases. In 2020, there were approximately 6,04,127 new cases of cervical cancer and 3,41,831 deaths worldwide, revealed Lancet's study on the disease.
With 1.23 lakh cases and approximately 67,000 deaths annually, India accounts for roughly one-fifth of the global burden, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organization.
However, a decline is observed in many countries including India, Thailand, Brazil, and Poland due to declines in fertility rates and lower parity, etc.
According to ANI, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced last month that India will soon receive the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination to eradicate cervical cancer as a public health issue.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has approved four vaccines that protect against HPV types 16 and 18, which are known to be the cause of at least 70% of cervical cancers. Five additional oncogenic HPV types, which are responsible for an additional 20% of cervical cancers, are prevented by the 0-valent vaccine. Anogenital warts, which are caused by HPV types 6 and 11, are also protected by two of the vaccines.
Cervavac is India¡¯s first indigenously developed quadrivalent human papillomavirus (qHPV) vaccine for the prevention of cervical cancer. It was developed in collaboration with the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) by the Serum Institute of India. On July 12 of this year, Cervavac was granted market authorization by the Drug Controller General of India.
Cervical cancer can be preventable if detected early and treated appropriately. Vaccination and screening are two effective methods for preventing cervical cancer.
However, women have little awareness of this cancer's prevention, and less than 10% of Indian women undergo screening. Even if they don't show any symptoms, all women between the ages of 30 and 49 must be screened for cervical cancer and have their teenage daughters vaccinated against HPV.