cervical cancer
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Cervical Vaccination Awareness Month: Cervical cancer has become a rapidly increasing serious disease among women in India. According to Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) dataEvery 8 minutes, a woman dies of cervical cancer in the country, making it a major health concern. This cancer grows slowly and its symptoms are not clearly visible in the initial stages, which makes it difficult to identify on time. Changing lifestyle, lack of health checkups and lack of awareness are further increasing its cases. Experts believe that if timely information, investigation and preventive measures are adopted, then deaths due to this cancer can be prevented to a great extent.
By checking at the right age and taking necessary steps cervical cancer The risk can be reduced. Awareness is the strongest way to fight this disease. To prevent and timely identify cervical cancer, it is important to know why this disease occurs and what are its symptoms. Besides, it is also important to know at what age the cervical cancer vaccine should be administered.
At what age should cervical cancer vaccine be administered?
Dr. Saloni Chadha, Associate Professor in the Department of Gynecology at RML Hospital. It is said that giving cervical cancer vaccine at the age of 9 to 14 years is considered to be most effective. At this age the body’s immunity improves and protection against viruses becomes stronger. The vaccine can be administered even at the age of 15 to 26 years, which reduces the risk of cancer to a great extent. After 26 years, the vaccine should be administered only on the advice of a doctor, because at this age the body may already be affected by the virus and the effect of the vaccine may be reduced.
The main objective of the vaccine is to protect against a virus called HPV, which is considered to be the biggest cause of cervical cancer. By getting vaccinated at the right age, the chances of getting this disease in future are greatly reduced. However, along with the vaccine, regular checkups and a healthy lifestyle are also necessary.
What are the causes and symptoms of cervical cancer?
The main cause of cervical cancer is HPV infection. Apart from this, early marriage, repeated pregnancies, smoking, weak immunity and lack of regular checkups also increase its risk. Its symptoms are not obvious in the initial stage, but later signs like abnormal bleeding, bleeding between periods, pain during intercourse, smelly vaginal discharge and pelvic pain may appear.
Ignoring these symptoms can prove serious, so it is important to consult a doctor on time.
For whom is cervical cancer more dangerous?
Women who have HPV infection.
Who do not get regular checkups done.
Women who smoke.
Women with weak immunity.
Women marrying or conceiving at a young age.