Cervical Cancer: One Death Every 8 Minutes in India; Know Symptoms, Prevention

• Cervical cancer claims a life every eight minutes in India, with younger women increasingly affected.
• The primary cause is the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), specifically high-risk strains like types 16 and 18, responsible for about 95% of cases.
• Risk factors include early sexual activity, multiple partners, high parity, smoking, alcohol, long-term oral contraceptive use, and weakened immune systems (e.g., HIV).
• Early symptoms often ignored are abnormal vaginal bleeding (after sex, between periods, post-menopause) and foul-smelling discharge.
• Prevention involves active screening (Pap smear) and the HPV vaccine; treatment ranges from surgery to radiation and chemotherapy depending on the stage.

Why It Matters: Cervical cancer is a growing threat in India, largely preventable with awareness, vaccination, and early screening.