Public Health
INTRODUCTION
Cervical cancer is a major public health problem, as it is the second most common cancer in women world-wide after breast cancer. Cervical cancer is a common type of malignancy accounting for about 6% of all cancers found in women. It is a disease in which cancerous cells develop in the uterine cervix (this is the connecting passage between the uterus and vagina). The human papillomaviruses are the principal cause of most cervical cancers. The peak incidence of cervical cancer occurs between the ages of 40 to 55. It is rare before the age of 35; however the incidence of cervical cancer in younger women rose dramatically during the two decades after 1960. Regular Pap smear tests may detect abnormal changes in the cervical tissues, before cancer develops. Symptoms of cervical cancer may include vaginal bleeding after intercourse or bleeding between periods. However, in the early stages of the disease there are often no obvious signs or symptoms, so regular smear tests are important.
CERVICAL CANCER- A PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH
Cervical cancer is the sixth most common cancer in women in the UK. (Department of Health, 1999). Around 3200 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer in the UK each year, with 95% of cases being in women over 35. However, deaths from cervical cancer have fallen by more than 40% over the last 20 years, and the incidence of cervical cancer is much lower than it is for breast cancer, for example (nearly 41,000 new cases a year). This reduction is mainly because of the NHS screening programme, for all women between the ages of 20 and 64 in the UK.
Cervical cancer is a major health problem in the world today. In some developing countries it is the commonest female cancer. It is estimated that around 370, 00 cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed in the world each year. (www.cervicalcancer.uk.com/index.html (6/05/06) date accessed)
PUBLIC HEALTH
Public health carries out its mission through organized, interdisciplinary efforts
Cervical cancer is a major public health problem, as it is the second most common cancer in women world-wide after breast cancer. Cervical cancer is a common type of malignancy accounting for about 6% of all cancers found in women. It is a disease in which cancerous cells develop in the uterine cervix (this is the connecting passage between the uterus and vagina). The human papillomaviruses are the principal cause of most cervical cancers. The peak incidence of cervical cancer occurs between the ages of 40 to 55. It is rare before the age of 35; however the incidence of cervical cancer in younger women rose dramatically during the two decades after 1960. Regular Pap smear tests may detect abnormal changes in the cervical tissues, before cancer develops. Symptoms of cervical cancer may include vaginal bleeding after intercourse or bleeding between periods. However, in the early stages of the disease there are often no obvious signs or symptoms, so regular smear tests are important.
CERVICAL CANCER- A PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH
Cervical cancer is the sixth most common cancer in women in the UK. (Department of Health, 1999). Around 3200 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer in the UK each year, with 95% of cases being in women over 35. However, deaths from cervical cancer have fallen by more than 40% over the last 20 years, and the incidence of cervical cancer is much lower than it is for breast cancer, for example (nearly 41,000 new cases a year). This reduction is mainly because of the NHS screening programme, for all women between the ages of 20 and 64 in the UK.
Cervical cancer is a major health problem in the world today. In some developing countries it is the commonest female cancer. It is estimated that around 370, 00 cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed in the world each year. (www.cervicalcancer.uk.com/index.html (6/05/06) date accessed)
PUBLIC HEALTH
Public health carries out its mission through organized, interdisciplinary efforts
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