Breast And Cervical Cancer: Nadda said that risk assessment for NCDs is done through CBCS and high-risk individuals are referred for screening for common NCDs.
Cervical cancer is the most common cancer among women after breast cancer. It develops in the cervical cells in the lower part of the uterus. So far, more than 14.6 crore women have been screened for breast cancer and more than 9 crore women have been screened for cervical cancer across the country. This information was given by Union Health Minister J P Nadda in the Lok Sabha. He said that breast cancer was detected in 57,184 women, out of which 50,612 women are undergoing treatment. Similarly, cervical cancer was confirmed in 96,747 women, out of which 86,196 women are undergoing treatment. These figures have been taken from the National Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) portal.
The government launched the National NCD Portal in 2018. The aim of this portal is to ensure continuity of care for five major NCDs like breast cancer, cervical cancer. Apart from this, the Department of Health and Family Welfare also launched the ‘National Program for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases’ (NP-NCD) in 2010. It aims to prevent and control major NCDs like hypertension, diabetes, oral cancer, breast cancer and cervical cancer.” Its objective is to strengthen infrastructure, develop human resources, promote health, early detection of disease, management and referral to the right healthcare facility.
Nadda said that under the programme, 770 district NCD clinics, 233 cardiac care units (CCUs), 372 district day care centres and 6,410 NCD clinics have been set up across the country. Meanwhile, the Department of Health and Family Welfare provides technical and financial support to states and union territories under NP-NCD under the National Health Mission (NHM). ASHA workers use the Community Based Assessment Checklist (CBAC) to check the health of all people above 30 years of age. If a person is suspected of having a disease, he is referred for further investigation and treatment. Nadda said that risk screening for NCDs is done through CBAC and high-risk individuals are referred for screening for common NCDs. This is part of meaningful primary health care under NHM.
What are the early symptoms of cervical cancer-
1. Abnormal vaginal bleeding,
2. Vaginal bleeding during menopause or after sexual intercourse,
3. Menstrual periods that last longer than normal,
4. Other abnormal vaginal discharge,
5. Bleeding between periods with pain during sexual intercourse.