CERVICAL CANCER PREVENTION

Authors

  • Aleksandar Tomašević 1Institute for oncology and radiology of Serbia, Pasterova 14, Belgrade, Serbia 2Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Dr. Subotića 8, Belgrade, Serbia
  • Mira Karadžić Institut za onkologiju i radiologiju Srbije, Beograd
  • Mirjana Miković Institut za onkologiju i radiologiju Srbije, Beograd
  • Vesna Veković Medicinski fakultet Univerziteta u Beogradu, Beograd
  • Milena Tomašević Zavod za zdravstvenu zaštitu studenata Beogradskog Univerziteta, Beograd

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46793/PP231209005T

Keywords:

cervical cancer, youth, prevention, vaccination

Abstract

In addition to developed prevention and modern, successful treatment modalities, cervical cancer still represents a major social and epidemiological problem in the world, especially in underdeveloped and developing countries. According to the cervical cancer incidence and mortality, Serbia has been at the top of the list of European countries for decades.

The proven central role of chronic HPV infection and the persistent presence of viral DNK in the genetic material of the cells of the cervical mucosa has led to the development of successful prevention measures.

Primary prevention is presented through HPV immunization of the population in childhood/early adolescence. Secondary prevention is presented through screening to detect asymptomatic premalignant changes or early stages of invasive disease.

It has been shown that the population benefit from vaccination is achieved when the level of immunization exceeds 50%. In Serbia, the nine-valent HPV vaccine is currently available, although the vaccination itself is not mandatory but at the level of recommendation, which with insufficient information about HPV infection, combined with the already widespread negative opinion towards vaccination in general, results in a low overall percentage. Also, there is still no adequately developed organized screening, it is most often carried out as opportune screening, based on colposcopy with PAP testing, while HPV testing is carried out on a much smaller scale, all of which represent the reasons for the high incidence and mortality from cervical cancer in Serbia.

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Published

03/21/2024

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Section

Review Articles