Every day 7 Vietnamese women die from cervical cancer

According to the HPV Information Centre, every day in Vietnam, 7 more women die from cervical cancer and 14 new cases are diagnosed.

According to a 74-page report published on the HPV Information Center on June 30, 2017, of the 25 common cancers in Vietnamese women, cervical cancer is the fourth most common (11.3%); after breast (24.4%), lung (12.8%), and liver (11.4%). It is estimated that each year Vietnam has 5,146 cases and 2,423 deaths from the disease.

Approximately 37.7 million women over the age of 15 are in the population at risk of the disease. Of these, women over 40 years old have the highest incidence and mortality rates. 95% of cervical cancer cases are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV). HPV is transmitted through contact, sexual intercourse, from mother to child (during childbirth) and can remain in the body for decades before developing the disease.

Currently, scientists have discovered more than 100 strains of HPV that cause disease in humans. Of these, HPV 16 is the most dangerous, accounting for nearly 50% of cases. HPV 18 is second with 34%. HPV can cause the following diseases: cervical, vulvar, vaginal cancer in women; penile cancer in men; genital warts (condyloma acuminata), throat cancer, anal cancer in both sexes.

However, many Vietnamese women have little knowledge about the HPV virus, according to a study published in June 2017 in the Journal of Infection and Public Health. A questionnaire of at least 34 questions was sent to 932 Vietnamese and American students in October 2106 by experts from the University of Utah, the University of Texas Medical Branch, and Ho Chi Minh City National University. The results showed that 495 Vietnamese students answered fewer questions correctly than 437 American students. Not only are they poorly equipped with knowledge about the HPV virus, Vietnamese female students are also subjective about the disease and face many barriers in getting vaccinated.

95% of cervical cancer cases are caused by the human papillomavirus HPV.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), at least 50% of adults worldwide are infected with HPV at some point in their lives. In 90% of cases, the immune system will eliminate HPV within 1-2 years. However, if the body's resistance is weakened, they will attack and cause disease. Symptoms are often unclear, so patients can easily transmit it to others, only accidentally discovered through gynecological tests.

Associate Professor, Doctor, Doctor Vo Minh Tuan - Deputy Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City said that cervical cancer directly affects health, work and married life. This disease can take away a woman's sacred motherhood. However, patients can be cured and preserve their motherhood if detected early.

To prevent the disease, women aged 9-26, whether sexually active or not, can be vaccinated against high-risk strains of HPV. After this age, they should practice safe sex; have regular gynecological examinations; and have a PAP test every year or every two years.

According to VNE