O cervical canceralso called cervical canceris caused by infection by Papillomavirus Humano (HPV). Transmitted through unprotected sex, the disease can be avoided through vaccination and, therefore, awareness is fundamental. Given this, this Wednesday (26) is recognized World Cervical Cancer Day.
Most of the time, virus infection does not cause symptoms. However, in some cases, cells undergo changes that may develop into cancer over the years.
“Cervical cancer is 98% of the HPV -related time,” says Márcia Datz Abadi, oncologist and medical director at MSD Brasil, to CNN. “HPV has a number of serotypes, more than 200, but there are around 14 of them that are oncogenic, that is, that cause cancer. And this virus is latent, is within the cervical mucosa cells and, within the DNA of this virus, mutations can occur that can lead to cancer,” he explains.
Mutations in HPV infected cells can occur throughout life. This means that a person who has contracted the virus can take years to detect pre-concrete injuries or even cancer.
According to the National Cancer Institute (INCA), it is estimated that for each year of the triennium 2023-2025, more than 17,000 new cases of being recorded in Brazil. Risk factors include sex without condoms, smoking and prolonged use of contraceptive pills.
How can HPV and cancer lesions be detected?
Early detection of cervical cancer is critical to increasing the chance of treatment and healing. It can be done through clinical, laboratory and radiological examinations. The preventive examination-that is, that made in people without symptoms suggestive of the disease-is the one, capable of detecting pre-concrete lesions and making early diagnosis.
The exam can be done at public health posts or units and their periodic performance allows to reduce occurrence and mortality from the disease.
In addition to Papanicolau, colposcopy allows visualization of the vagina and cervix with a device called colposcope, capable of detecting abnormal lesions in this region. Abnormal cells detected by these tests are analyzed in a biopsy, which confirms the diagnosis of cancer.
Despite the importance of early diagnosis, more than 36 million women did not perform at least one preventive examination within three years. The data are survey by the UMANE Association with information from Impsogov, considering data from Sisab (Health Information System for Primary Care), from the Ministry of Health.
Data from the UMANE Public Health Observatory also show that in 2023, 21% of women living in the capitals of Brazil had never done the Pap smear, based on Vigitel numbers. Women with lower level of education, up to 8 years of study, were the ones that were the most precarious, with 85.7% having the exam, compared to 14.3% of this track that had never done Pap smear.
Among women with 9 to 11 years of study, 30.2% did not take the exam. Among those 12 years or over study, 15.4% did not investigate if they had cervical cancer.
How is prevention done?
The main way to prevent cancer is a. The vaccine is distributed free of charge by the Unified Health System (SUS) and is indicated for:
- Girls and boys from 9 to 14 years old;
- Women and men living with HIV, transplanted from solid organs, bone marrow or cancer patients in the age group of 9 to 45 years;
- Victims of sexual abuse, immunocompetent, 15 to 45 years old (men and women) who have not taken the HPV vaccine or have incomplete scheme;
- Users of HIV pre-exposure (PREP) prophylaxis, 15-45 years old, who have not taken the HPV vaccine or have incomplete scheme (according to the recommended age or special situation);
- Patients with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis/PRR from 2 years of age.
“Cervical cancer kills, today 19 women every day in Brazil. This is a very strong number that we need to change,” says Abadi. “Among women who have not yet vaccinated, 57% of them answered that it was for lack of knowledge. So we need to keep hitting this key [sobre a importância da vacinação]”.
The data cited by the oncologist is research conducted by the Ipsos Institute Request of MSD Brasil. The study, made with 500 people across the country, showed that the vaccination campaign was cited as the main actor who led to HPV vaccine adherence by 65% of vaccine.
