Cervical Cancer Facts – Freedom and Future
Mahatma Gandhi’s dream of cleanliness and hygiene across India remains unfulfilled, despite his famous words: “Sanitation is more important than independence.” The release of 'PadMan', a film on menstrual hygiene, was ironically postponed from Republic Day to World Chocolate Day.
A major section of the nation remains unaware of female hygiene. It’s time to address cervical cancer, a preventable disease common among Indian women.
What is Cervical Cancer?
Cervical cancer occurs in the cells of the cervix—the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina. Most cases are caused by certain strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection.
In most women, the immune system clears HPV naturally. But in some, the virus persists for years, leading to cellular changes that can turn into cancer. The risk can be reduced through HPV vaccination and regular screening tests like Pap smears.
What Do the Numbers Say?
According to the WHO, cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women globally. About 90% of deaths occur in low-HDI (Human Development Index) countries.
In India, cervical cancer remains one of the top cancers in women and is the second or third most common cancer among women depending on region and registry data.
Major risk factors include: persistent infection with high-risk HPV types. Socioeconomic factors such as lower education, reduced access to screening, high parity, early marriage and limited hygiene/menstrual product access are associated with higher rates of cervical cancer, but the direct cause remains HPV.
While treatment and early diagnosis can cure many cases, in settings where screening and treatment are limited, mortality remains high. With scaled implementation, a very large proportion of cervical cancer deaths are avoidable.
Incidence is higher among women who are less educated, from lower economic classes, or have more children. Surveys show that in India, roughly 42–58% of women are using sanitary napkins or hygienic methods in recent data, and the remaining proportion use cloth or other locally manufactured products in many regions; this lack of safe menstrual practices correlates with higher vulnerability but is not the sole cause of cervical cancer.
Symptoms of Cervical Cancer
Symptoms include:
Irregular, intermenstrual, or post-coital vaginal bleeding
Back, leg, or pelvic pain
Weight loss, fatigue, loss of appetite
Vaginal discomfort or odorous discharge
Severe symptoms appear in advanced stages, often leading to late diagnosis.
Efforts for ‘Cervivorship’
‘Cervivorship’—a blend of survivorship and cervical cancer—encompasses:
Government policies and community awareness
Social mobilization and promotion of menstrual hygiene
Mandatory HPV vaccination for girls aged 9–13 (before first intercourse)
Regular screening and timely treatment of precancerous lesions
Palliative care for advanced cases
Almost all cervical cancer deaths are preventable with effective interventions. Research is needed to make HPV vaccines accessible nationwide.
Pop-Culture and Pap Smears
Staying updated on screenings is more important than keeping up with Bollywood. 'PadMan' sparked a vital conversation on 'period poverty' and menstrual hygiene.
As Twinkle Khanna said, “PadMan was not just a film, it was a movement.” It’s time to bring topics like Pap smears and HPV vaccines into pop culture—through movies, songs, and media—to replace superstition with science.
Just as Gandhi’s movements inspired independence, today’s pop culture can drive a national mission for sanitation, hygiene, and a cervical cancer-free future for Indian women.
We are fortunate that a major cancer in India is preventable. Let’s not miss this opportunity to drastically reduce the cancer burden.