Cervical cancer on the rise in the young

 A MUST READ Public Health Awareness Message 

Full Story: Mail Online 5 November 2011

A research at the University of Manchester reveals that incidence of cervical cancer is on the rise in young girls mostly in their 20s. A rise of 40% has been registered over the past decade and almost 300 cases are diagnosed among this age group every year. Their study, funded by Cancer Research UK, found they rose from 5.5 cases  per 100,000 women in the 20-29 age  group to 7.9 cases per 100,000 – or a 43 per cent rise. 

Cervical cancer is caused by the human papillomavirus virus, an extremely common virus, which is same as the infection which causes genital warts – though most strains  will not cause cancer.Scientists blame the rise on the fact that girls are having unprotected sex at a younger age and with more partners.

The findings show how vital it is for girls aged 12 and 13 to be given the HPV jab, which protects against cervical cancer

Posted in: Health Women