Why Cervical Cancer Screening Should Be Your Priority

Let’s be honest: everybody has the same thought – what is cervical cancer, and why should I bother about cervical cancer screening?

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among Indian women – but it’s also one of the most preventable. Over 127,000 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer in India in just 2022, and sadly, almost 80,000 women died from it. That’s more than 200 deaths a day – from cancer that develops slowly and is almost entirely preventable through regular screening of cervical cancer.

Here’s something important to understand. Cervical cancer doesn’t just appear overnight. It usually starts with very small changes in the cervix. These changes are called precancerous, and if found early through regular cervical health screening, they can be managed before cancer develops. That’s the power of a simple medical checkup and cervical test: prevention, not just detection.

What Is Cervical Cancer?

Let’s start from the very basics because not everyone knows about this cancer, even though we just saw how many deaths it has caused. The cervix is the lower part of the uterus. It connects the uterus to the vagina. It is like the passage between the uterus and the outside world.

Cervical cancer happens when cells in the cervix start growing in a way they shouldn’t. Normally, cells grow, do their job, and then die. But in cancer, this process goes out of control. These abnormal cells grow quickly, build up, and form tumours.

This cancer usually grows slowly. It could even take years to develop. In most cases, it begins because of long-term infection with a virus called HPV (human papillomavirus). That’s why cervical cancer screening is helpful – it picks up early signs before things get dangerous.

How and Where Does Cervical Cancer Begin?

It all begins in the transformation zone of the cervix – the area where two types of cells meet: squamous and glandular cells. Because these cells are different, this zone is more sensitive to changes. That’s where most types of cervical cancer start.

The HPV virus, when it lingers in this area for too long, can make these cells behave abnormally. The DNA inside the cells changes, leading to uncontrolled growth. This is why doctors focus on the transformation zone during cervical test procedures like Pap smears.

Under the microscope, this is usually where the first early signs of cervical cancer appear.

Types Of Cervical Cancer

There are mainly three cervical cancer types:

Squamous Cell Cancer

This is the most common cervical cancer type. It starts in the outer layer of the cervix, where flat cells grow. Doctors see this in most cases – about 8 or 9 out of every 10 women with cervical cancer. It usually starts in the area where the outer and inner parts of the cervix meet, which is more likely to develop changes.

Adenocarcinoma

This type starts in the glandular cells inside the cervical canal. It’s less common than squamous cell cancer and harder to catch early because it grows deeper in the cervix.

Even tests like the Pap test – where the doctor gently collects a few cells from the cervix and checks for early changes – might not always catch this type early.

Mixed Carcinomas

Sometimes, the cancer shows features of both squamous and glandular cells. That’s called a mixed carcinoma. This type is not very common, but it can behave differently than the others. That’s why doctors watch it more closely. It may not always follow the usual patterns, and it might need a slightly different approach to treatment. Regular cervical cancer screening is still the best way to catch it early – even though it’s rare, spotting changes in either type of cell can help find it before it becomes serious.

Understand Pre-cancerous Changes and Cancer

Before anything turns into cancer, the cervix may go through changes. These are called pre-cancerous changes. The good news is that pre-cancer is not cancer. It’s more like an early warning. If these changes are found in time through regular cervical cancer screening, they can be treated.

Doctors use the term CIN (Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia) to describe these changes:

• CIN 1: Mild changes – may go away on their own

• CIN 2: Moderate changes – need closer follow-up

• CIN 3: Severe changes – very close to cancer

With regular cervical test checks, these can be spotted early. That’s why cervical health screening is so important for prevention.

Factors that Cause Cervical Cancer

The main cause of cervical cancer is a virus called HPV – short for human papillomavirus. It’s very common. Most people get it through skin contact during intimate activity. Usually, the body clears this virus on its own. But sometimes, it stays in the cervix for a long time and starts changing the cells slowly. That’s when problems begin.

If the body doesn’t clear the infection – especially the high-risk types – the cells in the cervix start behaving abnormally. And over time, those small changes can lead to cervical cancer. This is why regular cervical cancer screening is so important. If we catch the changes early, we can stop cancer before it even starts.

Other things increase your chances of getting this cancer:

• Starting physical relationships at a young age

• Having many sexual partners

• Smoking (yes, it affects the cervix too)

• Low immunity (if your body is weak, it can’t fight the virus properly)

• Using birth control pills for many years

• Not doing regular screening for cervical cancer

All these make it easier for HPV to stay longer in your body. And the longer it stays, the higher the chances of it causing harm.

Skipping a simple cervical test might not feel like a big deal today – but this is how many women miss the early signs. You may feel healthy and fine, but cervical cancer doesn’t show symptoms early on. That’s why cervical health screening is not just for people who are sick – it’s for people who want to stay well.

If you’ve ever asked, “cervical cancer – how to prevent it?” – this is one of the most effective ways to prevent cervical cancer: know what causes it and go for regular checks.

Symptoms of cervical cancer

Here’s the tricky part – in the beginning, cervical cancer doesn’t cause any pain or discomfort. You might feel completely fine. That’s why regular cervical cancer screening is so important. It helps catch small changes in the cervix before they turn into something serious.

But as the cancer grows, the body starts to give small warnings. These can be easy to miss or confuse with regular period problems. That’s why many women ignore them.

Here are some common signs to watch out for:

• Spotting or bleeding between periods

• Bleeding after your periods have stopped (menopause)

• Periods that go on for too long or feel heavier than usual

• Ongoing pain in the lower stomach or back

• Bleeding after a pelvic exam or any kind of physical contact

• Pain during physical contact

• White or yellow discharge that’s heavier than normal

• Discharge that smells strong or unpleasant

If you notice any of these, don’t wait. Even if it feels like a minor issue, it’s better to talk to your doctor. A simple cervical test can help find out what’s going on. The earlier you catch it, the easier it is to treat.

Prevention Of Cervical Cancer

Here’s the good part — there are real answers to the question: of cervical cancer and how to prevent it. The earlier you start prevention, the better. 

Here are three keyways to prevent cervical cancer:

• Cervical Cancer Screening Test – Regular Pap and HPV tests help find changes early.

• HPV Vaccine – Protects against the virus responsible for most types of cervical cancer.

• PAP Test – Looks for pre-cancerous changes so they can be treated in time.

Done regularly, these steps lower the risk significantly.

Colposcopy screening method of Cervical cancer

If a Pap test finds something unusual, the doctor may suggest a colposcopy. It’s a simple procedure that uses a special microscope to closely examine the cervix. A mild solution may be applied to highlight problem areas.

If anything looks concerning, the doctor might take a small tissue sample (biopsy) for testing. Colposcopy is safe, quick, and an important part of screening for cervical cancer.

How AI-powered Colposcopy Helps in Early Cervical Cancer

Colposcopy is a special type of cervical test that doctors use to “zoom in” and get a closer look at the cervix. If your doctor notices something odd during a routine screening of cervical cancer like the Pap test, they will go for the colposcopy. Before, doctors used a colposcope, which is an instrument with a light and a camera, to examine the cervix. But that wasn’t very efficient. Here’s where technology helps. AI-powered colposcopy tools can now scan cervical images and detect early changes that may be hard for human eyes to spot. This is important because some changes in the cervix are so tiny that even trained eyes might miss them. With AI, computers are trained to find those subtle patterns much faster.

This improves:

Accuracy in early detection – AI can spot unusual patterns in the cervix and highlight them quickly, even before symptoms appear. This helps in identifying potential issues during cervical cancer screening.

Fewer human errors – AI helps reduce the risk of misreading results by adding a second layer of smart checks, especially during screening of cervical cancer.

Faster results – Automated tools process images and data much quicker, so patients get results sooner. That means faster follow-up tests if needed, such as a biopsy or another cervical test.

It doesn’t replace doctors, but it supports them in making better decisions. The goal: catch cancer earlier, when it’s easier to manage. By combining AI with regular cervical health screening, we can improve how early and accurately we detect all cervical cancer types.

The Best Cervical Cancer Screening in India Using Digital Colposcopy

If you’re looking for cervical cancer screening with expert care and modern tools, Nura might be a good choice. Nura is India’s first AI-powered preventive health screening centre. It brings together Dr. Kutty’s clinical experience with Fujifilm’s advanced imaging technology.

What sets it apart:

• Full body screening in 120 minutes

• Low-dose CT scan (97% less radiation)

• Calm, friendly environment

• Non-invasive, painless tests

• Gentle paddle mammogram for added comfort

• No need to fast

• Easy-to-read ABCD grading report

• Wide bore scanner – lowers claustrophobia risk

• A quick, convenient experience

Nura doesn’t offer single tests – it’s a full body medical checkup service – It’s built for healthy people who want to stay ahead of health issues.