Why is Cervical Cancer Prevention Important?

June 11, 2016

Today, I met with Sandra (my mentor) to discuss the focus of her main research project, funded by American Cancer Society (ACS).

She explained to me that cervical cancer is a major public health challenge for India, with India harboring 1/4 of the world’s cervical cancer burden. Further, it is the leading cause of cancer mortality and the second-most common cancer in women (after breast). This is alarming because the disease is easily preventable if detected early enough! Because human papillovirus (HPV) infection progresses into cervical cancer, if this infection is detected early enough, cervical cancer can be prevented.

However, many state governments have not made cervical cancer prevention a priority–rather, they focus on hypertension and cardiovascular disease. This is because doctors/government officials/women may not realize the prevalence and lethality of the disease. In addition, because the disease is sexually-transmitted, women may feel embarrassed or shamed if they were screened. The weak health communication linkages and infrastructure are other barriers to efficient prevention. Those diagnosed may also be ostracized because of misconceptions that they are contagious or sinful. Further, the disease affects the poor disproportionately, because the poor have low health literacy and low access to healthcare resources.

Two states, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, have introduced comprehensive cervical cancer prevention programs recently. The goal of this study is to assess the influences and different factors that form the environment around these programs, and identify gaps in communication and knowledge, weaknesses in healthcare infrastructure, and fear and stigma surrounding vaccination, screening and treatment of cervical cancer.