Every day in Bulgaria, 1 woman dies from cervical cancer. 99% of cases of this type of cancer are caused by human papilloma virus (HPV). This startling statistic is the reason why, for another year, medical laboratories Synevo, together with the National Association for the Prevention of Cervical Cancer, announce the campaign “Reduce the risk. Take action. Live!”. The aim of the campaign is to raise awareness of cervical cancer, its causes, risk factors, and ways of prevention.
When the numbers speak…
Worldwide, cervical cancer is the second most common disease among women aged 20-45 years. Unfortunately, more and more women in Bulgaria are being diagnosed, and statistics show that cancer is often detected at an advanced stage – almost 40 women die every month from cervical cancer. Prevention and screening are extremely important because early diagnosis of the disease provides the possibility of a complete cure for patients. Unlike many other types of cancer, cervical cancer is completely curable as long as it is detected at an early stage.
Screening tests for cervical cancer
The PAP test (also called Pap smear) is the most common test used to screen for cervical cancer. It can detect abnormal cells in the cervix, including cancer cells and cells that show changes that increase the risk of cervical cancer. To perform a PAP test, the doctor takes a swab from the cervix, and the sample is then examined in a laboratory for abnormalities.
During the campaign “Reduce the risk. Take action. Live!”, 200 ladies will be able to receive a completely free pap smear by the method of liquid cytology, which is one of the most innovative diagnostic tests for detecting cervical cancer and has been used in Western Europe for years. Learn more here.