Mass-awareness is very important to defeat
cervical cancer as early detection and subsequent proper treatment has been proved towards thwarting the deadly disease, cancer specialists said.
They stated that cervical cancer is the foremost cause of cancer related mortality of women in developing countries like Bangladesh.
The sufferings caused by the disease alongside the rate of mortality and morbidity could be reduced to a greater extent through early detection and timely and full-course treatment.
They revealed this while addressing a scientific seminar on cervical cancer awareness. Professor Dayem Uddin Cancer Foundation organized the seminar at Nanking Darbar Hall in Rajshahi on Saturday.
During his keynote presentation, Prof Dr Dayem Uddin, Chairman of the foundation and Head of Radiotherapy and Oncology Department of Barind Medical College and Hospital, said unconsciousness, early marriage, early child birth, onset of sexual activity at young age and some other related issues have so far been identified as the risk factors for the disease.
Once the cells of the cervix become malignant, it is important to identify the malignancy early to prevent mortality and reduce morbidity. Because cervical cancer is asymptomatic until its advanced stages, the only way to diagnose cervical cancer early is by screening women regularly.
Vice-Chairman of the foundation Dr Shahla Hossainy, Chief Engineer of Rajshahi University Sirajum Munir, Advocate Kamrunnahar and Dr Julekha Sarker also spoke.
Prof Dayem said creation of awareness, education to reduce high- risk sexual behaviour and measures to reduce and avoid exposures to sexual transmitted infections were proved as the primary prevention measures.
Referring to a study of International Agency for Research on Cancer he told the seminar that around 11,956 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer in the country every year and over 6,582 die of the disease.
He identically said the majority of cervical cancer cases occur in mid-age rather than old-age and it is one of the most common cancers in women under 35.
‘Preventative cervical screening programmes can avoid cervical cancer deaths and provide a means of early detection. When the disease is detected early, it is highly treatable and is often associated with long survival and good quality of life outcomes,’ he added.
The patients, who are suffering from cervical cancer, would get treatment at an affordable price at city hospitals.
It was immensely important to have a national health policy regarding preemptive screening, diagnosing and treating of pre-cancerous condition of the cervix to reduce the mortality rate for the cause of cervical cancer in Bangladesh.
