Cervical Cancer and HPV Vaccination, A Call for Awareness

Cervical cancer is primarily caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), transmitted during sexual activity. The recent passing of model and actress Poonam Pandey at the age of 32 after a battle with cervical cancer highlights the pressing need for awareness, prevention, and destigmatization surrounding this disease. Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in India, with new cases accounting for 17.7% of cervical cancer cases globally, according to a recent WHO report.

Abnormal cell growth around the cervix, the lower end of the uterus connecting to the vagina, results from persistent high-risk HPV infections. While the body’s immune system can clear the virus, certain strains, such as HPV 16 and HPV 18, pose a higher cancer risk, necessitating vaccination.

The symptoms of cervical cancer are often not apparent in the early stages. Later stages may manifest as unusual vaginal bleeding, post-coital bleeding, bleeding between periods, or after menopause, accompanied by vaginal discharge and pelvic pain.

Prevention and early detection are crucial. The Pap test, recommended for women entering adulthood and beyond 20, helps detect cancer cells, with screening intervals ranging from three to five years.

Cervical cancer is preventable and curable through vaccination against the HPV virus. India’s own HPV vaccine, Cervavac, targeting four HPV types, is recommended for girls aged nine to 14. Commercially available at Rs 2,000 per dose, this vaccine has shown success in preventing HPV-related infections, genital warts, and cervical cancer.

Quadrivalent vaccines, like Cervavac, block HPV types 16, 18, 6, and 11, offering protection against infections and cancer. Evidence from over 100 countries with HPV vaccination programs indicates a decline in cervical cancer cases. Recent studies from Sweden and England in 2020 and 2021 show that teenage vaccination reduces cervical cancer risk by over 85% by age 30.