INSPIRATION WITH LALIT MOHAN SHUKLA: Cervical cancer- An Indian vaccine

Cervical cancer is a slow-growing, but life-threatening disease. Today's screening techniques mean you're more likely to discover precancerous cells that can be removed before they get the chance to develop into cancer. With early diagnosis and treatment, the outlook is very good.

Nearly all cervical cancers are caused by an infection with certain high-risk types of human papillomavirus (HPV). You can get HPV from: any skin-to-skin contact of the genital area. vaginal, anal or oral sex.

Cervical cancer develops very slowly. It can take years or even decades for the abnormal changes in the cervix to become invasive cancer cells. Cervical cancer might develop faster in people with weaker immune systems, but it will still likely take at least 5 years.

Cervical cancer starts in the cells lining the cervix -- the lower part of the uterus (womb). The cervix connects the body of the uterus (the upper part where a fetus grows) to the vagina (birth canal). Cancer starts when cells in the body begin to grow out of control.

Cervical cancer is curable, but it is difficult for doctors to know for sure that it will never come back following treatment. Therefore, doctors often use the term “remission” to describe cancer that has gone away and is no longer causing symptoms.

Cervical cancer is most frequently diagnosed in women between the ages of 35 and 44 with the average age at diagnosis being 50 . It rarely develops in women younger than 20. Many older women do not realize that the risk of developing cervical cancer is still present as they age.

A Pap test can detect abnormal cells in the cervix, including cancer cells and cells that show changes that increase the risk of cervical cancer. HPV DNA test. The HPV DNA test involves testing cells collected from the cervix for infection with any of the types of HPV that are most likely to lead to cervical cancer.

Almost all cervical cancers are caused by high-risk types of human papillomavirus, or HPV. HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the US. Most sexually active people with cervixes have an HPV infection during their lifetimes.

REMOVAL;

The procedure can be done in different ways: Using a surgical blade (cold knife cone biopsy) Using a laser beam (laser conization) Using a thin wire heated by electricity (the loop electrosurgical excision procedure, LEEP or LEETZ procedure).

A full blood count test isn't enough to confirm a diagnosis of cervical cancer. However, it's an important test that will likely be part of any cervical cancer testing process. A full blood count shows the levels of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in your blood.

If early cell changes develop into cervical cancer, the most common signs include: vaginal bleeding between periods. menstrual bleeding that is longer or heavier than usual. pain during intercourse.

Two vaccines licensed globally are available in India; a quadrivalent vaccine (Gardasil™ marketed by Merck) and a bivalent vaccine (Cervarix™ marketed by Glaxo Smith Kline).

NEED OF VACCINATION

Yes, vaccinated women will still need regular cervical cancer screening because the vaccine protects against most but not all HPV types that cause cervical cancer. Also, women who got the vaccine after becoming sexually active may not get the full benefit of the vaccine if they had already been exposed to HPV.

Human papillomaviruses (HPV) are the major cause of cervical cancer, recognised worldwide as one of the biggest killers among all cancers in women. In 2006, the release of world's first vaccine protecting against infection with HPV was hailed as a major medical milestone.

What is CERVAVAC? India's first indigenous qHPV vaccine, CERVAVAC, is developed by the Pune-headquartered Serum Institute of India in coordination with the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India.