On June 9, 2006, the United States of America announced the approval of a vaccine against cervical cancer, the HPV Vaccine. They also mentioned that this vaccine could eventually save thousands of lives in the United States of America each year and hundreds of thousands live in the rest of the world.
WHAT IS CERVICAL CANCER?
The cervix is the lower end of the womb and the part where a baby grows during pregnancy, and it connects the uterus to the opening of the vagina. The cervix is covered in tissues made of cells.
Cervical cancer happens when these cells in the normal cervix begin to change to precancerous cells.
NOTE: Not all precancerous cells will turn into cancer
Most cervical cancer cases can be avoidable by getting the vaccination of HPV. This cancer begins with an infection called HPV which is an abbreviation for human papilloma virus which is spread by sexual activities. In some women, HPV first leads to an infection which may lead to another infection known as Dysplasia which over time can be progressed to cervical cancer.
NOTE: Dysplasia is the abnormal growth or development of cells on the cervix
HOW THE HPV VACCINE WORK
The HPV vaccine works to reduce the growth of abnormal cells known as dysplasia which leads to the development of cervical cancer.
According to WHO an experiment to test the vaccine was performed on around 16,947 girls who were not affected by the HPV.
They were randomly split into two groups one group that received the HPV vaccine and the other that received a placebo. 8487 girls received the HPV vaccine, and 8460 girls received the placebo vaccine after two years none of the girls who had received the HPV vaccine had any dysplasia on the cervix whereas 50 girls had dysplasia among those who received the placebo vaccine.
After 2 years, two of the girls who received the HIP vaccine had dysplasia on the cervix whereas the girls who had received the placebo vaccine among then around 112 girls now had dysplasia on their cervix.
NOTE: Both men and women up to the age of 45 can get the HPV vaccine.
Cervical cancer in India
According to a recent survey, Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in Indian women. Every 8 minutes a woman dies of cervical cancer in India.
The length of survival of a person diagnosed with this cancer depends on the stage it gets detected.
According to a survey in October 2022 total number of deaths in India due to cervical cancer was 77,348 whereas the number of new cases registered of cervical cancer was 123,907
HPV VACCINE NOW IN INDIA
SIDE EEFECTS OF THE HPV VACCINE
Little redness or soreness and pain may be experienced while getting the vaccine.
NOTE: No major side effects have been witnessed.
MYTHS ABOUT THE HPV VACCINE
- It can lead to infertility
- Only girls need to get the HPV vaccine, boys do not need it
- The vaccination can increase sexual activity
- The HPV is uncommon so there is no need to get the vaccination for the same
Men’s role in cervical cancer
Men act as both conveyors and bearers of these cancer-causing HPVs, and they specifically contribute to the considerable risk of cervical cancer in their female partners.
Although many women are marked to get cervical cancer from their male partner on another side there are also many men who may become the victim of HPV by their Female partner as a woman’s risk of cervical cancer also depends on her own sexual behavior than her husband or her other male partner.
Test to detect Cervical cancer
Pap test– It is the test that can detect abnormal or irregular growth of cells in your cervix. In short, it can detect dysplasia on the cervix.
HPV test– This test is mostly done after being diagnosed with dysplasia to check the high- risk of HPV infection that can cause cervical cancer.
Read more: The Top Risk Factors In India For Cancer (asianatimes.com)
Read more about HPV testing: HPV and HPV Testing (cancer.org)
