Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts from January 19, 2025

The Global Effort to Eliminate Cervical Cancer: A Path to a Healthier Future for Women

  Cervical cancer, a disease that develops in the cervix—the entrance to the uterus—continues to be a major public health concern, affecting hundreds of thousands of women worldwide. In fact, cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women globally. Yet, despite its prevalence, we have the tools and strategies necessary to eliminate it as a public health problem. The Link Between HPV and Cervical Cancer Almost all cases of cervical cancer—99%, to be exact—are caused by infection with high-risk human papillomaviruses (HPV). This common virus is transmitted through sexual contact and, while most HPV infections resolve on their own without causing harm, persistent infection can lead to cervical cancer over time. Cervical cancer remains a leading cause of death among women, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where access to screening and treatment is limited. In 2022, an estimated 660,000 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer, and approximately 350,000 women...