5 facts about cervical cancer you should know!

Zee Media Bureau/Shruti Saxena

New Delhi: Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among women in India, with approximately 1.32 lakh new cases of cervical cancer being diagnosed and about 74,000 deaths occurring annually, accounting for nearly one-third of cervical cancer deaths across the world.

According to 'Cervical Cancer Global Crisis Card' released by the Cervical Cancer-Free Coalition, India represents 26.4 percent of all women dying of cervical cancer globally, with China, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Indonesia and Thailand also showing high death incidence.

Here are five facts about the disease you should know:

-In India, cervical cancer is the commonest cancer among women.

-Symptoms like vaginal discharge with an unpleasant odour, or tinged with blood, and lower abdomen pain all point to chances of having cervical cancer.

-Engaging in sexual activity in early age and having multiple sexual partners puts one more at the risk of HPV transmission and cervical cancer.

-Cervical cancer is caused by infection by a virus, called the Human Papillomavirus or HPV.

-It is possible to treat cervical cancer in women by vaccination.