Protect Against Cervical Cancer
The very essence of womanhood lies in taking care of entire household and relatives, etc. The lives of the netire family revolves around the woman of the house. Hence it is imperative that the woman be taken care of! Cervical Cancer is the number 1 cause of cancer-related deaths amongst women in India, which is more than the breast cancer.
Every year more than 1,32,000 women are diagnosed with Cervical Cancer out of which over 75000 women die due to the disease!
What is cervix? Cervix is the mouth of the uterus. It prevents infections from reaching the uterus, an especially crucial function during pregnancy to protect the growing foetus.
Cervical Cancer is caused by a virus called - the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) which infects the cervix. This virus is common and is generally transmitted through skin-to-skin contact of the genital area. To some extent, this disease can be prevented by taking protection while having sex.
This cancer is not hereditary and can be detected in its early stages by regular screening.
Who is likely to get Cervical Cancer?
Every sexually active woman is at risk for Cervical Cancer throughout her life. In fact, upto 80% of women are infected with an HPV infection at some point in their life.
The risk of infection begins at adolscence and continues in to adulthood. Cervical Cancer affects the women at the prime of their lives. Although the Cancer affects older women, younger women are at the highest risk of acquiring the HPV infection that might lead to full-blown Cervical Cancer later in their lives.
Screening for Cancer: Pap smears can detect the abnormalities indicating the pre-cancerous and early stages of the Cervical Cancer. Hence, regular Pap smears; though uncomfortable; should be made a part of essential must-dos for every woman. Along with good health practices such as exercising, proper diet control, quitting cigarettes, etc, taking that extra effort of vaccination will ensure ahealthy life for women.
The vaccination that has been developed to prevent against Cervical Cancer works by making the body produce antibodies against the HPV. These antibodies protedt the body from ab HPV infection, buy fighting the virus when it attacks the cervix.
The vaccine is given in three doses over a period of 6 months. This vaccine is generally safe and well tolerated. This will work quite well in women upto the ages of 45 years. It works the best when given at very young ages of 9 years and so on.
Take the first step and learn more about preventing this vicious disease. Visit your doctor now!!
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