Over 3 Every year Polish women find out that they have cervical cancer. Only half of them survive the next 5 years – according to the data presented during the XXXI Congress of the Polish Gynecological Society, which ends on Saturday in Katowice.
Although cervical cancer detected early is fully curable, and its detection is possible thanks to a simple and free smear test, it is still neglected by many Polish women. Experts emphasize that only a part of women use letters sent home for free tests – only 27 percent. ladies aged 25-59. This statistic may be underestimated by the fact that many women do the surveys in private practices that do not conduct any reporting. During the discussion in Katowice, it was emphasized that letters are an archaic form, and it could be more effective to use e-mail or mobile phones for this purpose.
Despite the statistics that are still unfavorable for Polish women, the younger generation has a chance to avoid cervical cancer. Vaccines are available on the market against the human papillomavirus HPV that causes cervical cancer. The optimal time for vaccinating girls is the age of 10-12 years, before the sexual initiation.
In Poland, these vaccines are not reimbursed, but so far approximately 150 local governments throughout Poland have decided to finance vaccinations of the girls’ population in their area. Vaccines should be reimbursed. If we balance the human and economic losses related to the treatment of women with cervical cancer, it is definitely worth vaccinating, although the effects will, of course, only be felt in many years. A great tribute is due to local governments, they understand the problem better and vaccinate their citizens, their girls – said the president of the Polish Gynecological Society, prof. Ryszard Poręba.
As in the past, thanks to vaccines against the polio virus, thousands of people were saved from disability, so today, by vaccination against the HPV virus, we are able to eliminate the problem of cervical cancer. After vaccination, even if the virus penetrates into the reproductive organ of a woman, it will not hurt, because the immune system will already be created – concluded Prof. Clearing. (PAP)
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