Expert Shares 7 Factors On Why Cervical Cancer Is Still Detected Too Late In Indian Women

Cervical cancer ranks as the second most frequent female cancer in India. A quarter of the world’s cervical cancer deaths take place in India, typically as a result of a late-stage diagnosis. In fact, every two minutes, one woman loses her life to cervical cancer in India. This type of cancer is one of the most common cancers, and the only way to deal with it is in three ways: prevention, cure, and early diagnosis. Screening is the mainstay of its control, and India has strategies dedicated to its implementation.

The cancer problem in India is intricate and affects society, besides the healthcare system. It is closely related to cultural beliefs, stigma, and shame; that is, women and rural populations are affected more than others. The taboo

of women’s health and reproductive organs impedes open discussion, and thus, women’s freedom to get timely care is limited.

Cervical cancer in India is still mostly located at an advanced stage because of the confluence of social, systemic, and health system barriers. Dr Renu Malik, Director at Malik Radix Healthcare, shares the 7 reasons why cervical cancer is detected so late in women in India:

• Low and irregular screening uptake: A large number of women eligible for screening (30–65 years) have never been screened or have only been screened once. Screening is mostly opportunistic; thus early disease goes undetected because the chances of routine screening are low.
• Stigma and cultural taboos: Cervical cancer is a disease of the reproductive organs, which are still considered sensitive topics in most communities. Fear, embarrassment, and shame are the main factors that prevent women from going through pelvic examinations. Open discussion about gynaecological symptoms is usually avoided. Therefore, people delay care until the symptoms become severe.
• Limited health, seeking autonomy for women: In many parts of India, especially in rural regions, women need family permission before they can go to a doctor. Health priorities are put after household responsibilities, and preventive care is considered as something that can wait.
• Low awareness and education: In India, a lack of awareness and educational gaps, particularly in rural areas, result in a large number of women seeking care only after the onset of symptoms.
• Misconceptions around risk: A lot of women think that they do not need to be screened. The belief that monogamy and childbirth reduce the risk is still the reason why many women who are eligible for screening do not go for routine screening.
• Early cervical cancer is largely asymptomatic: Women frequently only seek medical attention when they have persistent abnormal vaginal bleeding, malodorous discharge, or pelvic pain. At this point, the disease is usually advanced.
• Health system inadequacies: The insufficient awareness of some frontline workers results in delayed referral and follow-up after a positive screening test. These gaps lead to progression of the disease from the early stage.

The government can defeat the long-standing obstacles by increasing awareness, bringing screening closer to the communities, and making cervical cancer checks a routine part of women’s healthcare. It is very important to ensure that every eligible woman gets timely screening and follow-up to avert avoidable deaths from a largely preventable cancer.