PUNE: China and India together contribute more than a third of the global cervical burden, with 1,06,000 cases and 48,000 deaths in China and 97,000 cases and 60,000 deaths in India, according to a Lancet study published on Thursday.

Doctors say that the incidence of cervical cancer is increasing and there is a need for more awareness about the same.

Speaking about the alarming numbers, Dr Dadasaheb Akolkar, Director Research, and Innovations, Datar Cancer Genetics Ltd, said that incidence of cervical cancer among women in India is the second largest after breast cancer. “Regular screening is the simplest way for early detection and diagnosis,” said Dr Akolkar.

However, there is a huge reluctance and shyness among women to undergo periodic screening using existing methods that are invasive. Advanced non-invasive techniques like blood-based screening will ease this reluctance while aiding early detection and monitoring,” Dr Akolkar added.

Sharing similar views, Dr Inder Maurya, Emergency Medicine, Managing Director (MD) of Foreign OPD said that cervical cancer is caused by a virus Human papilloma virus (HPV).

“It is a  major health hazard affecting middle aged women, particularly in rural India. The cancer can be completely eradicated if there is timely screening and vaccination is done.  Every year, 97,000 new cases of cervical cancer is diagnosed, 60,000 deaths take place with the fatality rate of 49 per cent. A prompt second medical opinion plays a pivotal role in the management of cervical cancer in diagnosis and treatment thereby reducing mortality,” said Maurya.