BANGALORE: One of the deadlier forms of cancer, cervical cancer, can be kept at
bay by a simple test or pap smear. But in India, which has the highest number of
cases, there is little awareness and no intervention in the form of screening.
Globally, cervical cancer kills 3 lakh women a year -- 4/5th of cases are in
developing countries. A vaccine is now available but not all can afford it.
The reasons for its dangerous trend in India are not far to seek: there is no
programme that includes screening and vaccination, unlike in UK and Australia,
where it is part of their national health system. Screening has reduced the
cancer's incidence and mortality.
