Cervical Cancer: The Cancer We Know How to Prevent

Introduction

Of all the cancers I treat, cervical cancer carries a particular weight for me — because it’s one of the very few cancers we genuinely know how to prevent, and yet it remains the second most common cancer among women in India. Almost every case is caused by persistent infection with certain strains of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), a virus so common that most sexually active people encounter it at some point in their lives. Most infections clear on their own. Cervical cancer develops only when a high-risk strain persists for years, undetected — which is exactly the window where prevention and screening do their work.

By Dr. Ramya D R, Gynaecological Oncologist

The two tools that change everything

HPV vaccination. The HPV vaccine protects against the strains responsible for the vast majority of cervical cancers. It works best when given before exposure to the virus — ideally between ages 9 and 14 — but it’s approved and beneficial for girls and women up to age 45. If you have a daughter in this age group, or if you’re an adult woman who hasn’t been vaccinated, it’s worth a conversation about whether it’s right for you. Vaccination doesn’t replace screening, but together they are remarkably effective.

Regular screening. This is the part I want every woman reading this to take seriously, because cervical cancer typically takes 10–15 years to develop from the first abnormal cell changes — which means screening can catch and treat it at a precancerous stage, long before it ever becomes cancer. Current guidance generally recommends:

A Pap smear every 3 years from age 21, or
An HPV test every 5 years from age 25 (or Pap and HPV co-testing, per your doctor’s advice)
Screening can often stop around age 65 if previous results have been consistently normal

If you’ve never had a Pap smear, or it’s been more than 3 years, that alone is reason enough to book one — you don’t need symptoms to justify screening. In fact, the entire point of screening is to catch changes before symptoms appear.

Lifestyle factors that lower your risk

Quit smoking, or don’t start. Smoking significantly increases the risk that an HPV infection will progress to cancer — it’s one of the few modifiable risk factors with truly strong evidence behind it.

Practice safer sex. Consistent condom use reduces (though doesn’t eliminate) HPV transmission. Limiting the number of sexual partners, for you and your partner, also lowers cumulative exposure risk.

Don’t delay follow-up on an abnormal result. An abnormal Pap smear or positive HPV test is not a cancer diagnosis — it’s information that lets us monitor or treat early changes before they progress. Skipping the follow-up is where risk actually increases.

Support your immune system. A weakened immune system — whether from another condition or certain medications — makes it harder for your body to clear HPV on its own, so managing your overall health matters here too.

Warning signs — and when to see a doctor

Early cervical cancer very often causes no symptoms at all, which is precisely why screening (not symptom-watching) is the real safety net. But please see a gynecologist promptly if you notice:

Bleeding between periods, after intercourse, or after menopause
Periods that have become noticeably heavier or longer than usual
Unusual vaginal discharge — persistent, watery, or foul-smelling
Pelvic pain or discomfort during intercourse that is new or ongoing
Any bleeding at all after menopause — this should always be checked, without exception

None of these symptoms automatically mean cancer — infections, hormonal changes, and benign conditions cause most of them. But they all deserve an examination rather than a wait-and-watch approach, because the earlier we look, the simpler the answer usually is.

Why this cancer, specifically, deserves your attention

I want to be direct about something: unlike many cancers, cervical cancer gives us a genuine head start. We have a vaccine that prevents the infection that causes it. We have a screening test that catches it years before it becomes dangerous. And when precancerous changes are found, treatment is usually straightforward and highly effective. The tragedy of cervical cancer, when it does happen, is almost always a story of missed or delayed screening — not a lack of medical tools.

So if you’re overdue for a Pap smear, if your daughter hasn’t been vaccinated, or if something on this list sounds familiar, please don’t let it wait for “someday.” This is the cancer where five minutes today can be the whole difference.