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Recommendations for Contraceptive Use |
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Cervical Cancer Prevention |
Q.3. How can deaths attributed to
cervical cancer be prevented?
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| Cervical cancer is the most
preventable form of major cancer worldwide. The two public health strategies are: |
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| a) Primary prevention, or
keeping women from developing the disease. Cervical cancer is mostly caused by behaviors
connected to life style. Therefore, priorities should focus on changing behavior,
promoting barrier methods, discouraging smoking and helping women have the number of
pregnancies they want. |
a) Preventing the transmission
of Human Papilloma virus (HPV) will require information, education and communication
strategies that raise awareness among both men and women of the risk of HPV infection due
to unprotected sexual intercourse, especially with multiple partners. Additionally,
because only a few HPV types are strongly associated with cervical cancer, researchers are
examining the benefits of developing a HPV vaccine.
- Ponten J, Adami HO, Bergstrom R,
Dillner J, Friberg LG, Gustafsson L, et al. Strategies for global control of cervical
cancer. International Journal of Cancer 1995;60:1-26.
- Manos M. Cervical cancer as a sexually
transmitted disease. Report of Emerging Issues in Reproductive Health Meeting, June 15,
1995. Tiberon CA, The Population Council.
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| b) Secondary prevention, or
screening women who may have pre-cancerous lesions and treating them. Currently, screening
with appropriate follow-up care is not widely available or economically feasible in many
countries or settings. |
b) On average, it takes about 10
years for pre-cancerous lesions to develop into cervical cancer. Most cervical cancer
occurs in women over the age of 35. If detected early, there is a 95% success rate for
treatment. However, screening is only useful in preventing cervical cancer deaths if
appropriate medical follow-up services are available. The most common screening method used is the Pap smear. Providing
Pap smears requires significant infrastructure. Without this, Pap smears are often poorly
prepared and improperly interpreted. However, because it is still the best method for
diagnosis if properly conducted, efforts are being made to improve Pap smear availability
and interpretation.
Other approaches to screening, including methods for
enhanced visual inspection of the cervix and HPV detection, are being studied and refined
now. These approaches may prove more useful and especially appropriate for economically
restricted countries. Where resources are scarce, screening methods will be more effective
in preventing cervical cancer deaths if they target women at high risk (e.g., over the age
of 35).
- Bishop A, Wells E, Sherris J, Tsu V,
Crook B. Cervical cancer: evolving prevention strategies for developing countries.
Reproductive Health Matters 1995;6(November):60-71.
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