Poonam Pandey fake death news: How common is cervical cancer in India?

A day after reports of model-actor Poonam Pandey’s death due to cervical cancer surfaced, the reality TV star announced in a post that she is alive. “I am alive. I didn’t die of cervical cancer. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same about the hundreds and thousands of women who have lost their lives due to cervical cancer,” she said in a post on Instagram.

On Friday, her team had said that the 32-year-old “bravely fought the disease”.  Pandey’s fake death news comes days after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the government’s push for vaccination against cervical cancer for girls aged nine to 14 as part of her Interim Budget 2024. Here’s all you need to know about the prevalent disease. What is cervical cancer? The lower, slim end of the uterus (womb) that joins the vagina is called the cervix, and this is where cervical cancer develops, according to Mayo Clinic. Before the cancer develops in the cervix, the cells undergo a process called dysplasia, in which abnormal cells begin to proliferate and enter the cervix more deeply before spreading to the surrounding areas. How is it caused? Cervical cancer is caused by the human papillomavirus, or HPV, in 99 per cent of cases, reported NDTV. There are 200 related viruses in the HPV group. This frequent sexually transmitted infection affects the skin, genitalia, and throat. The immune system eliminates the virus from the body in most situations. Persistent infection, however, can cause abnormal cells to proliferate and eventually develop into cancer. While cancerous cells take 15-20 years to develop, women with weakened immune systems may experience this process in as little as five to 10 years. Cervical cancer is more common in young moms, smokers, people on hormonal contraceptives, and people with other STDs, the report said. The World Health Organisation (WHO) states that almost everyone who engages in sexual activity is infected with HPV at some point in their lives. Certain HPV infections can linger even though the majority do not result in cancer. How common is it? According to the WHO, cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer globally. Around 604,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 342,000 women die from the disease globally each year, as per the Global Cancer Observatory. In 2020, an estimated 604,000 women globally received a cervical cancer diagnosis, and around 342,000 of them lost their lives to the illness. India is home to about 16 per cent of the world’s women, but it accounts for about a quarter of all cervical cancer incidences and nearly a third of global cervical cancer deaths. According to News18, data from the Indian government as showing that cervical cancer ranks is the second most prevalent cancer in India. According to a WHO report published on Thursday, 17.7 per cent of Indian women are newly diagnosed with cervical cancer. As per some recent estimates, every year almost 80,000 women develop cervical cancer and 35,000 die due to it in India. The Hindu earlier reported that just one per cent of women are screened for cervical cancer in India. What are its symptoms and treatments? Experts warn that cervical cancer sometimes does not exhibit symptoms in its early stages. However, as and when the infection spreads, the symptoms appear in form of unusual vaginal bleeding, post-coital bleeding, bleeding between periods or after menopause, or after sexual intercourse, as per India Today. According to WHO, the common symptoms related to cervical cancer also include increased or foul-smelling vaginal discharge, persistent pain in the back, legs, or pelvis, weight loss, fatigue and loss of appetite, vaginal discomfort, and swelling in the legs. To confirm that cervical cancer exists, a medical professional’s diagnostic test is crucial. Cervical cancer screening should start as early as age 21 to 29. Screening intervals should be three to five years, depending on the results. Cancerous cells in the cervix can be found with a basic pap test. This test can also identify abnormal cells that have the potential to develop into cancer. Treatment options for cervical cancer are numerous and include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Is it preventable? It is possible to prevent and treat cervical cancer. If caught early, it can be efficiently treated and healed. Getting vaccinated is the best way to prevent cervical cancer. HPV vaccinations are essential and safe for preventing this kind of cancer. The most widely used vaccines are the Serum Institute’s made-in-India vaccine against cervical cancer, CERVAVAC, currently available in the private market for about ₹2,000 a pop, and Gardasil 4 (quadrivalent vaccine), which is priced at ₹3,927 per dose. As per News18, the Centre is already in talks with the Serum Institute of India to lower the price. “We may take steps that bring down the price of HPV vaccine,” a top government source told the outlet. Dr Chirag Bhirud, Consultant, Oncology Surgery, Jupiter Hospital, Pune, told the news channel, “In addition to preventing cervical cancer, HPV vaccines also protect against other HPV-related cancers, such as anal, vaginal, vulvar, and oropharyngeal cancers.” What is the Centre’s plan to fight cervical cancer? In her speech, while presenting the Interim Budget for 2024, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the Centre aims to encourage vaccination for girls aged nine to 14 years for the prevention of cervical cancer. The Minister also said the Centre plans to set up more medical colleges and said that it aims to serve the people through improved healthcare services. The development comes a month after the Union Health Ministry said it is closely monitoring incidences of cervical cancer in the country and is in regular touch with states and various health departments. The Centre is slated to launch its programme in September – after the SII provides six crore doses. The price for the vaccine could work out to Rs 200 to Rs 250 per dose. For young girls, the vaccine may be given free of charge, as per News18. The Indian Express also previously reported the Centre is likely to launch its programme by the second quarter of 2024. The rollout would cover all eligible girls in three phases over three years. The vaccine would also be included as part of routine immunisation for girls at age nine. With inputs from agencies