Fight Against Cervical Cancer

It's time you take the lives of women more seriously

2010-04-13T23:02:00.000-07:00

Recently the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) asked Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat to immediately suspend the cervical cancer control vaccination for girls. The programme is part of a two-year study to look into the utility of a vaccine in public health programmes and acceptability of Gardasil, the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine made by Merck. The programme was marred by controversy after four deaths and complications among 120 girls were reported after vaccination. The girls complained of stomach disorders, epilepsy, headaches and early menarche. Women activists fear the vaccine may impact the mental health of girls who have shown no signs of distress so far.

While officials said that suspension of the trails was just a precautionary measure and not an endorsement that it caused complications and death in a few; CPM leader Brinda Karat has attacked the organisations involved with carrying out these trials. She has alleged that scientific, logical and ethical guidelines have been violated at each step of the drug and vaccine trials.

Health ministry sources said the vaccination programme is being conducted by Gardasil, jointly with PATH, a Seattle-based NGO, ICMR and the two state governments. About 32,000 girls, aged 10-14, were to be tested in the study.

Though this issue has sparked off a major debate, what amuses me is the fact that no emphasis whatsoever has been laid on the importance of screening. The vaccine costs around Rs. 9000 (including all the 3 shots) and it has been recommended for women between 11-26 years of age and it would be effective only if it administered before the sexual debut of women.

Now how many people can afford Rs. 9000 for a vaccine? What about women in the rural areas where rates of cervical cancer are so high? The vaccine is sure out-of-question for them! First is the price and secondly, its availability. Also, the onset of sexual activity today is quite early. So how many women would actually benefit from this vaccine is still to be proven and especially after this whole incidence, I guess we just have to wait and watch.

While the authorities go on debating about who is on the wrong side and who is on the right, I only wish they could spend some time and energy on coming up with solutions to make screening facilities available even in far-flung rural areas. It is high time the government take the lives of women more seriously!

Contributed by:
Mayurakshi Barua, New Delhi

The word finally seems to be out……

2010-02-24T23:39:00.000-08:00

Ever since I became a part of FACC, it has become a daily habit to scan the newspapers and the internet to find out if there has been anything written or discussed about cervical cancer. The last few weeks has seen a steady flow of articles/tips/stories on cervical cancer. It looks like the word is finally out on the big C. Just a few quotes from some of these articles:
“Even though the doctor had told me it was completely curable, the word cancer has some stigma attached to it”- Sunaina Roshan, cervical cancer survivor to India Today Woman.
“In India alone, eight women die every hour due to cervical cancer. Around 27 per cent of female cancer patients suffer from cervical cancer”- Dr. Leela Bhagavan to the Deccan Chronicle.
“While in recent years, India has made tremendous economic progress, there is one area where it still lags woefully behind. I refer here to the incidence of cancer of the uterine-cervix or cervical cancer. In fact, we have the dubious distinction of outstripping any other country when it comes to the number of cases of this type of cancer (132,000 new cases are reported every year and around 74,000 women die annually of it)” - Harmala Gupta, Founder CanSupport, in The Hindustan Times.
“Many a time, women are shy or afraid to come forward even they have problems related to HPV. Further, lack of awareness of the disease is another problem to prevent the disease in early stage, though it is one of the most common illnesses faced by the women in India. The NGOs and government should work on spreading awareness about tests like Pap Screening”- Dr. Gagan Saini, Oncologist, to Pharmabiz.com
“Survival after cervical cancer caught in its earliest stage is 92 per cent. Regular screening can help ensure it is caught at an early and treatable stage”- A Times Wellness Column article.
“Simple test could cut cancer deaths in poor nations”-Reuters
”Mandy Moore joins fight against cancer”-Dailytimes.com
To keep the word on cervical cancer spreading, I urge every woman out there to spend a mere 10 minutes visiting their gynaecologist and getting a pap test done and recommend it to your family and friends as well..you never know who might be next!

Contributed by: Mayurakshi Barua, New Delhi

Burst the “Happy Bubble”

2010-02-08T00:02:00.000-08:00

The root cause of many a serious disease is primarily our mindset. The statement sure does seem vague but is actually true. In our minds we all have this “happy bubble” which causes us to acknowledge the fact that diseases do exist however somehow renders ourselves as unsusceptible to them. Many women are aware of diseases such as cervical cancer but most of them share the common belief that they somehow cannot contract it. This state of mind is dangerous as over powering the mind becomes the single largest obstacle towards detection of a disease as deadly as cervical cancer, which is curable only if detected in the early stages.

Such a mindset is a common problem that plagues most Indian women and is probably the reason that India accounts for the largest number of cases of cervical cancer in the world. Globally, 5,00,000 women are detected with cervical cancer every year of which1,32,082 are Indian women. To add to this, 74,118 Indian women die of cervical cancer annually, that is 8 women every waking hour. The statistics are appalling and the need of the hour is to take concrete steps to ensure that we reduce the incidence of cervical cancer in our country.

It is imperative for women to undergo regular screening programs. Not only does this ensure that cervical cancer is detected at a stage where it is well within control, but also brings to light a lot of other diseases such as STDs which could otherwise go neglected.

Women need to be aware and conscious so as to visit their gynaecologists and take regular pap smears. It is time to let go of our inhibitions and come out of the “happy bubble” so as to ensure that we lead a healthy life, a life free from cervical cancer.

Contributed by: Akshay Joshi, New Delhi

Of Fairytales & Reality Bites

2010-02-05T18:46:00.000-08:00

We have all grown up with fairy tales, with happy endings, dreamily ensconced in our own little worlds of make believe. Yet real life’s never far away to deal a cruel blow to our dreams.

Yet the dreams appear to have triumphed over reality—a reality of people dying of deadly ailments like cancer and heart disease—as we continue to live in self denial, continuing to ignore our health and our lives on life’s pecking order of priorities. Why oh why?

Isn’t it time we woke up, stopped dreaming and took some action? Isn’t it time that we prioritized our health. It’s our life after all!!

In a world dominated by science and technology, where everything is possible, the only thing required is the will to fight, to step out of our dreams a while.

That’s what I learnt when I saw someone I knew fighting her own battle against cancer. But that’s the operative word here: fighting. You’ve got to fight it; you’ve got to have the will to fight!

It’s a painful journey; from losing hair to strong medication making life itself a living hell, when close friends can sympathize and at times even treat you like a pariah, to be shunned and treated like an outcast, the agony can be endless. Yet, you’ve got to resist, fight it all the way. That is the only way.

Cancer, significantly cervical cancer, today is spreading its tentacles far and wide, unchecked, insidious, and uncontrollable.

It’s a genuine call to all those who take their life callously, have multiple sexual partners and lead a generally unhygienic personal life. You’ve got to change because it can prove fatal, for your life.

Get yourself tested from time to time; a mere 10 minutes will make a big difference. If detected early cancer can be cured. Life as they say is not about the amount of breaths taken, but more about the moments which take your breath away.

It’s time to live your life well for those very special moments. It’s time to break the silence and spread the word – FIGHT AGAINST CERVICAL CANCER. Get going!

Contributed by: Vandita Sheoran, New Delhi

Evolving Mindsets! Fight Against Cervical Cancer

2010-01-27T23:35:00.001-08:00

We have all grown up with fairy tales, with happy endings, dreamily ensconced in our own little worlds of make believe. Yet real life’s never far away to deal a cruel blow to our dreams.

Isn’t it time we woke up, stopped dreaming and took some action? Isn’t it time that we prioritized our health. It’s our life after all!!

In a world dominated by science and technology, where everything is possible, the only thing required is the will to fight, to step out of our dreams a while.

Cancer, significantly cervical cancer, today is spreading its tentacles far and wide, unchecked, insidious, and uncontrollable.

It’s time to live your life well for those very special moments. It’s time to break the silence and spread the word – FIGHT AGAINST CERVICAL CANCER. Get going!

Contributed by: Vandita Sheoran, New Delhi

Cheers to our Youth!

2010-01-11T21:51:00.000-08:00

Dangers caused by various ailments can be prevented provided an individual takes her own responsibility by taking certain screening tests, taking preventive medication as and when required and most important of all leading a healthy lifestyle. Dangerous ailments like heart attacks, osteoporosis, cervical cancer, diabetes this list can go on but taken the right step can be prevented by taking precautionary measure.

Though many women are aware of various diseases but most share the common belief that they somehow cannot suffer from it. Indian psyche is such that one visits a doctor only when an individual falls sick. Even with all the modernization we still do not see the importance of visiting a doctor without any kind of ailment. Such a mindset is a common problem that plagues most Indian women and is probably the reason that India accounts for the largest number of cases of cervical cancer. As per WHO India accounts for 1.32 lakh detection of cervical cancer every year.

So ladies think when you last visited a doctor for a regular check up so buck up and visit your doctor now!! Girls its time you realize the importance…………

Contributed by: Sashi Ghising, New Delhi

Cervical Cancer: Awareness starts at Home

2010-01-10T21:55:00.000-08:00

So ladies think when you last visited a doctor for a regular check up so buck up and visit your doctor now!! Girls its time you realize the importance…………

Contributed by: Sashi Ghising, New Delhi

Women at the grassroots level!! A perspective

2010-01-06T20:19:00.000-08:00

As part of the FACC initiative, I recently attended a seminar organized by an NGO. The seminar involved participants from Bihar Gujarat, Rajasthan, U.P. etc. and was targeted at educating the representatives about sex- related issues faced by women in their respective regions. Ultimately it is these representatives who carry out simple examinations of the women in their region and apprise them about the basic hygiene elements to be observed and the precautions to be taken so as to ensure that all abnormalities are detected well in advance and appropriate medical treatment is administered.

The revelations at the seminar were indeed shocking. Women in rural India are quite ill informed about the importance of maintaining proper hygiene. Did you know, basic stuff such as the use of sanitary napkins during periods is most uncommon among women in rural India? Let alone use sanitary napkins, the women in question do not even use a clean and sterilized cloth. Given these facts, the high incidence of diseases such as cervical cancer etc. does not come as a surprise.

The fact is further explained by the risk factors that are found in abundance in rural India. Factors such as early onset of sexual intercourse and promiscuity, both of which are quite prevalent in rural India, make the women in these areas extremely prone to developing cervical cancer.

Sporadic programs have been initiated by individual states in India to address the issue of cervical cancer; however it just isn’t sufficient. Contributing one-fourth the total incidence of cervical cancer in the world, India definitely needs to formulate a nation wide focused campaign to combat this deadly disease.

Contributed by: Akshay Joshi, New Delhi

Fight Against Cervical Cancer.......Why Now??

2009-12-24T00:43:00.000-08:00

We have been running this campaign for over 6 months now and there have been a few incidences that bring a smile to my face cause of the cynical nature most people have these days…

Several people question us on, why we are running this campaign, what’s the underlying reason that we are not revealing? What’s in it for us?

Shouting it out aloud for all of you, we simply want to generate awareness! That’s what The PRactice wants…

Personally there many selfish reasons in it for me for running this campaign …In India 8 women die every waking hour to Cervical Cancer…as shocking it is, even more shocking is that one of these could be one of my loved ones! Someone from my family, friends, without whom I can’t imagine my life….

So urging you all to join in help us spread the word…!

Contributed by: Sukhmani Bikram, New Delhi

Will I Be The Next?

2009-12-23T22:29:00.000-08:00

Do I have it? Do I need to get it checked? Is it going to be painful? How and whom should I contact? These are few of the questions that have been driving me crazy. Not only me, but there are thousands of such women awaiting answer to these questions, struggling to make a better and a healthy future. In India, every 8 minutes a women dies because of cervical cancer.

According to Indian statistics, Cervical Cancer is the second most prevalent type of cancer among women. Lack of awareness, multiple sexual partners and unhygienic living conditions are mainly attributed for the rise of the disease which causes the largest number of deaths among women, approximately 74,000 deaths are reported every year in India. Women in India have a laid back attitude when it comes to regular health check-ups, especially when they are over 35 years, with little or no education.

Every time I feel some pain in my body, in the pelvic or the bladder region, my first thought is – Hope this is not Cancer? Every day thousands of women are losing their lives to Breast Cancer, AIDS and Cervical Cancer; these diseases intrude your body without showing any sign. How can I possibly protect myself from getting these diseases? For a medical condition like Cervical cancer, the best way, is to get a Pap smear screening done. Pap smear screening is probably the single most important preventative measure that a woman can take to prevent the development of cervical cancer. Since its introduction over 50 years ago, the Pap test has been the single, greatest contributor to the decline in cervical cancer.

Every day we spend so much money on ourselves to stay alive, but what are we doing with this chance? When we can spend 1000 Rs for an evening out then why do we sham away when it comes to getting health check-ups done? A mere 400-800 Rs can save our lives. It’s time that we realize the danger of this dreadful disease, don’t be ignorant, learn about it and discuss it with your friends and family. Remember, Cervical Cancer is not a contagious disease; early detection can save your life. So let’s join hands to stop this evil from spreading, let’s FIGHT AGAINST CERVICAL CANCER.

Contributed by: Vandita Sheoran, New Delhi

“No Promiscuity, No Pap Smear!”

2009-12-20T20:53:00.000-08:00

“I have never indulged in promiscuity so I don’t need a pap smear!” This was my friend’s reaction when we got talking on cervical cancer. While I was not really surprised at her response, the realization that even well-educated and modern women still harbour reservations about sex or any diagnostic test that might have a sexual angle to it, was what amazed me for a while. The sad part is that a lot of women are reluctant to get their pap smears done because their minds are clouded with innumerable “what ifs?”- What if they are actually diagnosed with cervical cancer? What if they are thought to be promiscuous by their friends and family? What if their characters are judged?

I was personally not aware of cervical cancer prior to joining FACC. Once I read up on it, the facts and figures on this ‘Big C’ sure did scare me. I wanted to spread awareness about this silent killer that is sweeping 8 Indian women every hour. All one needs to do to protect oneself against this disease is to get a pap smear done. It all sounded simple to me. My conversation with my friend just made me realise that the task ahead is not so simple and easy. The social taboos and the fear of being judged is what makes it complicated. I understood the fact that to fight cervical cancer, we need to fight and break down the taboos that surround our society today. It’s time women pushed out the “what ifs” from their mind and take their lives more seriously. We have only one life and we got to live it free- free from fear, free from cervical cancer!!!

Contributed by: Mayurakshi Barua, New Delhi

Let’s Make Our Suffering a Thing of the Past

2009-12-09T20:22:00.000-08:00

‘Prevention is better than cure.’ How many times have we heard this saying? I guess many times, but how many times have we actually practiced it?

Even when it comes to our own health, we have nothing but just an excuse.

Why are we so callous about our own health? We know the numbers are a telling reminder of how bad things are. Sample this again: 8 women are dying in India because of cervical cancer every hour making it the most dreaded malaise for women. What have we done about it? Nothing, absolutely nothing!

Life goes on and so do we not thinking about the consequences of ignorance.

Can’t go on like this can we? Time we opened our eyes and acknowledged the danger lurking within.

IT IS TIME.

Thanks to technology and research, we now have an option to get rid of cervical cancer. Just a single vaccination shot, can make a big difference in our lives.

For those who consider smoking to be cool and a great stress buster remember this—the only cause for the spread of cervical cancer is excessive smoking, multiple sexual partners and an unhygienic lifestyle.

Let’s not put our lives at stake anymore. This January, which is cervical cancer month, let’s all come together and kill this disease at its root.

As Pink Floyd immortalized in its famous song Time—Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day / You fritter and waste the hours in an offhand way / Kicking around on a piece of ground in your home town / Waiting for someone or something to show you the way—IT IS TIME we took control of our life ourselves!

Post Contributed by Vandita Sheoran, New Delhi

A life to live

2009-11-29T21:53:00.000-08:00

I came into office today and a colleague of mine told me about a friend she had lost to cervical cancer yesterday....and the questions that we have been trying to answer for the last 6 months started to buzz around over and over again....

Why do we live in denial? When statistics indicate otherwise......when 1 in 8 women lose their lives to this cancer every waking hour in India...To protect ourselves all we need to do is visit a Gynaecologist and insist on a pap smear....

Europe and The United States have a witnessed a 19% fall in the number of deaths from cervical cancer between 1990-1994 and 2000-2004. This decline is primarily because of cervical cancer screening programmes...

We have all been gifted with a life; let’s not take it for granted-WE URGE YOU TO GET A PAP SMEAR TODAY.

Sukhmani Bikram

Come Together To Fight Cervical Cancer

2009-11-27T00:42:00.000-08:00

Cervical cancer is the most common cancer amongst women in India. The growing risk of this disease in the country is 2.4% compared to 1.3% of the world. Every hour, 10 women in South-East Asia lose their lives to this silent killer; of which 8 are Indians. The astounding fact is that 60% of women in the country have not even heard about cervical cancer! As a result, only a mere 5-6% take the diagnostic test for cervical cancer called Pap Smear. Given that Cervical Cancer is a disease where early detection is the key to survival, these figures sure ring an alarm bell.

The main underlying cause of cervical cancer is the human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted and largely symptom less infection. A number of factors like early sexual advent and multiple sex partners increase the risk of cervical cancer by increasing the likelihood that a woman will contract an HPV infection. Several other factors influence whether women with abnormal cervical-cell changes go on to develop cancer. These include tobacco use, prolonged use of hormonal contraceptives, unhygienic living conditions and an impaired immune system.

Since 80% of the Indian population resides in the rural areas, women who fall in the economically backward strata are much more vulnerable to cervical cancer than their urban counterparts. Poor living conditions and low standards of health and hygiene in these areas expose these women to higher risks of this silent killer. Illiteracy, limited access to the television and internet has caused this particular section of women to be in the shadows about cervical cancer. Also, traditional taboos are a major reason for reluctance among rural women to seek medical assistance in gynecological matters. These reasons make it imperative that special attention be given to women in the rural areas.

This of course does not mean that the Indian urban woman is dwelling in conditions which bear a stronger protective shield from cervical cancer. Despite the technological and scientific advancements, the Indian society still remains greatly ignorant to a number of issues that call for immediate action. Sedentary lifestyles, increasing levels of alcohol and tobacco use by women and promiscuity are causes that are augmenting the number of cervical cancer cases in India.

The first mass screening programme for cervical cancer that is scheduled to begin in January in Bengal will hopefully generate the much needed awareness about this disease in the state. However, much more needs to be done to break through the ignorance that has blurred India against the impact of this silent killer. This is only possible when women as a whole come together to spread the word about the causes and the devastating effects of cervical cancer.

Post Contributor: Mayurakshi Barua, Delhi

As simple as a Pap Smear

2009-07-13T01:48:00.000-07:00

I am 26, single, independent and well informed about the world around me. About 5 years ago I finished my post graduation and entered into the corporate world, a journey I was eager to tread. The beginning of this journey was slightly faltering, as I was trying to discover myself and a profession that would define me. Today, fortunately I have a profession that defines me and I have been blessed to work on projects that I totally believe in and support.

Fight Against Cervical Cancer is one such project, talking about which takes me back to the time where were discussing causes that we wanted to be associated with and when cervical cancer was thrown on the table majority of us thought it was the cancer of the neck……the project certainly has come a long way since then!….To begin with I know its not the cancer of the neck, it’s the cancer of the cervix uteri or cervical area; kills eight Indian women every waking hour…..sadly India leads this dark race of death.

Human nature is certainly strange, I knew how deadly this disease was and how ignorance was killing close to 75,000 Indian women but I somehow felt I couldn’t be susceptible to it. Could I be? I was sexually active, I have had multiple partners and I smoke. My lifestyle was certainly pointing in that direction but somehow I didn’t want to accept it.

Fortunately my work required me to constantly read about cervical cancer and the knowledge empowered me to visit a gynaecologist and overcome my paranoia about doctors and hospitals.

While sitting at the gynaecologist and waiting to be called the anxiety gave me goose bumps. The doctor soon called me in and asked me undress and covered me with a sheet. She inserted a lubricated speculum (is a small medical tool for investigating body cavities) into the vagina and using a small mascara-like brush, took sample cells from the cervix. She then placed it in a tube and sent to the lab for testing. I experienced uneasiness; there is however no pain involved – It was easy & quick.

At the end of it I didn’t have abnormal results - I knew I was safe. I did heave a sigh of relief but on my things to do I do have the gynaecologist visit. I have come to believe prevention is better than cure. So be smart, visit your gynaecologist and insist on a pap smear.

Contributor: Yein, Age: 26, New Delhi

Pap Smear=Cervical cancer free life

2009-06-26T00:39:00.001-07:00

Clock work and health check ups could be synonyms in the western world especially for women but not so in India and I often wonder why? Is it because we feel we are immortal or do we just not care enough about our health?

While my graduation, I was placed in US and it was during this phase that I realized the importance of routine medical check-ups. Annual health check ups were encouraged and a pap smear was a must. I spent about 10 years and each year there was a medical check up, there was no escape from this routine…

I still recall my first pap smear; I was a bit anxious of the procedure. My physician detailed out the Pap smear procedure and the importance of it. It was a simple test to check my cervical cells under the microscope for any changes. The Pap test can tell if you have an infection, abnormal (unhealthy) cells, or cancer. There was no pain involved whatsoever in the procedure and five minutes is it all it took.

When I returned to India it was a like a new country….every where I looked, there was something new….malls, flyovers, etc etc.

A year into settling back, I went for my annual medical check up and it was here that I saw the India I had grown up in. I walked in to the gynaecologist’s and told her I was here for a routine annual check up. She looked a bit surprised and she asked me a few questions and said ok you are fine; I was taken aback! I demanded a pap smear and the procedure was no different just that I had to be aggressive to get one.

I came back very distressed and checked with my friends if they had faced a similar situation. Most of them said no, as they had never visited one. It was during these conversations I discovered that in India regular health check ups are not a practice and gynaecologist visits are not considered important. I was told most women only consult OB-GYN when they contracted infections or incase they are were planning a family.

In India, healthcare is a matter of concern. India accounts for a shocking one in eight cervical cancer deaths in the world, there is little or no awareness about the disease.

We owe it to ourselves to live healthy, so please visit a gynaecologist and insist on a pap smear!

Post contributor: Abhijit Kaur, New Delhi