Human Papillomavirus

HPV-Cervical Cancer

Most women do not have any signs or symptoms of a precancer or early-stage cervical cancer. Symptoms usually do not appear until the cancer has spread to other tissues and organs. Also, symptoms may also be caused by a medical condition that is not cancer. Scope of the problem, In developed countries, programmes are in place which enable women to get screened, making most pre-cancerous lesions identifiable at stages when they can easily be treated. 5-year survival rates ranged from 93% for cancers detected early to 15% for cancers that were widespread.  Early treatment prevents up to 80% of cervical cancers in these countries. In developing countries, limited access to effective screening means that the disease is often not identified until it is further advanced and symptoms develop. The stage of cervical cancer refers to the extent to which it has spread. Survival rates are often based on previous outcomes of large numbers of people who had the disease.