14 Vietnamese people get cervical cancer every day

Every day in Vietnam there are 14 new cases, including 7 deaths from cervical cancer, a disease that can be prevented by HPV vaccination.

TCrane, Doctor Le Quang Thanh - Director of Tu Du Hospital has treated many people with cervical cancer. He has encountered many unfortunate and heartbreaking cases, especially young women who are both infertile and have cervical cancer. There are cases where the mother is pregnant and discovers that she has the disease, making treatment and keeping the child difficult.

- What is the current status of cervical cancer in Vietnam, doctor?

- In Vietnam, cervical cancer is the second most common gynecological cancer, after breast cancer. Every year there are more than 5,000 new cases and more than 2,500 deaths due to this disease. In the world, every 2 minutes a woman dies from the disease.

- How many cases of cervical cancer does Tu Du Hospital receive each year?

- A statistic published in February 2016 in Vietnam shows that every day about 14 people are diagnosed with cervical cancer, of which 7 women die from this disease. At Tu Du Hospital, every year more than 900 people are diagnosed with the disease, 1,500 people have precancerous signs, about 2,000 people are infected with high-risk HPV virus strains.

- What causes cervical cancer and how is it transmitted?

- Cervical cancer is caused by HPV infection. Of which, HPV strains 16 and 18 are the most dangerous, accounting for more than 70% of cases. HPV can be transmitted through contact, sexual intercourse and from mother to child (when the child is born). Studies in Vietnam show that 8-10% of the population is infected with high-risk HPV strains that cause cervical cancer.

- Doctor, can you explain more about HPV virus?

- Human papillomavirus (HPV), also known as HPV, causes lesions in the skin and mucous membranes. There are about 40 types of HPV that can infect the genital areas of men and women. Usually, the body will fight off HPV before it affects health. For this reason, most infected people have no symptoms and do not know they carry HPV.

In cases where the body cannot fight off HPV, this virus can cause genital warts in both sexes; cervical, vulvar, and vaginal cancer in women; and other less common cancers such as anal and pharyngeal cancer.

HPV vaccination is a simple way to prevent the disease.

- How do women recognize cervical cancer?

- Women over 30 years old are susceptible to cervical cancer. In the pre-cancerous stage, there are almost no symptoms. Patients cannot know they have the disease if they have not had a gynecological examination and cervical cancer screening.

In the late stages, patients experience foul-smelling vaginal discharge, mixed with blood, vaginal bleeding after intercourse or after heavy work even when not in the menstrual cycle. Going to the hospital for a check-up at this point is too late. Therefore, women need to take precautions with vaccines and have regular cervical cancer screening.

- How does this disease affect the patient's finances, health and spirit?

- Cervical cancer is a dangerous disease, causing great damage to the health, spirit and finances of the patient and his family. Treatment requires a lot of coordination, long-term and expensive. Therefore, understanding and preventing the disease is very necessary.

- What are some ways to prevent the disease, doctor?

- The two simplest ways to prevent are HPV vaccination and regular screening tests. Vaccination is an active preventive measure, bringing the highest efficiency. Currently, in the world and in Vietnam, there are two types of licensed HPV vaccines in circulation.

Quadrivalent vaccine for 9-26 year olds, prevents cervical, vaginal, vulvar, anal cancer and genital warts caused by 4 strains of HPV 6, 11, 16, 18.

Bivalent vaccine for 10-25 year olds, prevents cervical cancer caused by 2 strains of HPV 16, 18.

- Where can women get the HPV vaccine?

- These two vaccines are recommended to be injected in 3 doses within 6 months according to a specific schedule. Women in the age group for HPV vaccination can go to Tu Du Hospital to get vaccinated with simple and easy procedures. In addition, they can go to the Obstetrics Hospital, Pasteur Institute, Preventive Medicine Center or licensed vaccination facilities to inject HPV vaccine.

According to VNE