Cervical Cancer Survival Rate: Expert says early screening improves treatment, quality of life

New Delhi: Cervical cancer is the third most prevalent cancer in India with a prevalence rate of 18.3 per cent. Cervix cancer is also the second leading cause of death with a death rate of 9.1 per cent as per a report of 2020. In India, Arunachal Pradesh has the highest incidence rate of cervical cancer with 27.7 per cent in Asia. The majority of patients with cancer were diagnosed at the locally advanced stage for breast cancer (57.0 per cent), cervix uteri (60.0 per cent), neck (66.6 per cent) and stomach (50.8 per cent).

Dr Kaushal Kishor Yadav, Sr Consultant & Clinical Lead – Surgical Oncology, Narayana Hospital, Gurugram shared with News9, “Cervical cancer is a major public health problem that affects millions of women around the world. It is the fourth most common cancer in women globally, with an estimated 604,000 new cases and 342,000 deaths in 2020. In India, it is 2nd most common and 2nd most common cancer-related mortality cancer in females. The majority of these cases and deaths occur in low- and middle-income areas, where access to prevention, screening and treatment services is limited or nonexistent. Cervical cancer is caused by persistent infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV), a common sexually transmitted infection that can affect the skin, genital area and throat. Most HPV infections are harmless and clear up on their own, but some high-risk types can cause abnormal cells to develop in the cervix, which can eventually turn into cancer if left untreated.”

Cervical cancer survival rate

“With rising effective screening and health awareness, cervix cancer incidence is decreasing and its 5-year survival rate is increasing. In the 90s, it was the most common women-related cancer in India and now it is second most common behind breast cancer,” said Dr Yadav.

According to Dr Yadav, “With the availability of treatment, 5-year survival is now more than 90 per cent in stage 1 and more than 80 per cent in stage II. One of the most important goals of screening is to identify early-stage diseases and promote them to receive the earliest possible treatment. This is the most effective way of decreasing the cervix cancer burden. Treatment of pre-cancerous lesions can be done by cryotherapy, loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) or cold coagulation, among others”

Cervix cancer mortality rate decreased by 70 per cent

“Cervix cancer death rate has reduced by more than 70 per cent compared to earlier decades because of effective screening and timely diagnosis. It can further continue to decrease by more than 3 per cent each year with more acceptance of screening and early treatment,” said Dr Yadav.