Cervical Cancer in India: 7 Factors Behind Late Detection in Women

• Cervical cancer is the second most frequent female cancer in India, accounting for a quarter of global deaths.
• Dr. Renu Malik identifies 7 key reasons for late detection, including low screening uptake and cultural taboos.
• Stigma around reproductive health and limited health-seeking autonomy for women delay timely care.
• Low awareness, misconceptions about risk, and asymptomatic early stages contribute to advanced diagnoses.
• Health system inadequacies, such as insufficient frontline worker awareness, also lead to delayed referrals.

Why It Matters: Late cervical cancer detection in India is driven by social, systemic, and health system barriers.