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Cervical Cancer

Cervical Cancer - Incidence


Cervical Cancer - Incidence

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women and is the primary cause of cancer-related deaths in developing countries.

Cervical cancer, in women, is the second most common cancer worldwide, next only to breast cancer. In India, cervical cancer is the most common woman-related cancer, followed by breast cancer.

Every year cervical cancer is diagnosed in about 500,000 women globally and is responsible for more than 280,000 deaths annually. There is a wide variation in the incidence of cervical cancer across the globe. In the west, early detection through regular screening has aided to significantly control the prevalence of this disease, thereby, lowering its incidence. In the last 50 years in the United States, the Pap smear tests have reduced the deaths related to cervical cancer by three-quarters. At one time cervical cancer was one of the most dreaded cancer and the leading causes of death in women in the US but now it is the eighth most common cancer there. 80% of the new cervical cancer cases occur in developing countries, like India, which reports approximately one fourth of the world#$#s cases of cervical cancer each year.

There has been a regular campaign against cervical canal for 30 years in India, but this has had little impact on the morbidity and mortality from the disease, with India ranking fourth worldwide. The number of deaths due to cervical cancer is estimated to rise to 79,000 by the year 2010. The cancer mostly affects middle- aged women (between 40 and 55 years), especially those from the lower economic status who fail to carry out regular health check-ups due to financial inadequacy.

In urban areas, cancer of the cervix account for over 40% of cancers while in rural areas it accounts for 65% of cancers as per the information from the cancer registry in Barshi.

Eastern and South Africa, Central and South America and the Caribbeans too report very high incidence of cervical cancer.

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Cervical Cancer – Facts and Figures

  • Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women and is the primary cause of cancer-related deaths in developing countries
  • Cervical cancer, in women, is the second most common cancer worldwide, next only to breast cancer. In India, cervical cancer is the most common woman-related cancer, followed by breast cancer.
  • Every year cervical cancer is diagnosed in about 500,000 women globally and is responsible for more than 280,000 deaths annually.
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  • There is a wide variation in the incidence of cervical cancer across the globe. In the west, early detection through regular screening has aided to significantly control the prevalence of this disease, thereby, lowering its incidence.
  • In the last 50 years in the United States, the Pap smear tests have reduced the deaths related to cervical cancer by three-quarters. At one time cervical cancer was one of the most dreaded cancer and the leading causes of death in women in the US but now it is the eighth most common cancer there.
  • 80% of the new cervical cancer cases occur in developing countries, like India, which reports approximately one fourth of the world#$#s cases of cervical cancer each year. The number of deaths due to cervical cancer is estimated to rise to 79,000 by the year 2010.
  • The cancer mostly affects middle-aged women (between 40 and 55 years), especially those from the lower economic status who fail to carry out regular health check-ups due to financial inadequacy.
  • In urban areas, cancer of the cervix account for over 40% of cancers while in rural areas it accounts for 65% of cancers as per the information from the cancer registry in Barshi.
  • Eastern and South Africa, Central and South America and the Caribbean too report very high incidence of cervical cancer.
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There has been a regular campaign against cervical canal for 30 years in India, but this has had little impact on the morbidity and mortality from the disease, with India ranking fourth worldwide.

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