Statistics show, besides middle-aged women, younger precancerous cervical lesion cases are on the rise. On average, one in every five precancerous cervical lesion cases happens to women aged 20-34. Major studies indicate that prevalent HPV types in Taiwan are different from other parts of the world. To introduce proper concepts and importance of cervical cancer prevention, Formosa Cancer Foundation invites popular actress Kuo Shu-yao (郭書瑤) as ambassador of cervical cancer prevention. She encourages young ladies to receive vaccinations and pap smear for better protection. Collectively, this will enhance female health in Taiwan. Cervical cancer vaccines have new innovation. Besides bHPV and qHPV vaccines, a new 9-valent vaccine can prevent against nine HPV types, and increase cervical cancer prevention to 90%.
Cervical cancer incidence rate and fatality rate have stayed the seventh in the cancer list, says Formosa Cancer Foundation Vice President Tsai Li-chuan (蔡麗娟). Although decreasing, Taiwan still records nearly 1,600 cervical cancer cases and over 700 deaths each year. While cancer patient numbers are lower by the year, precancerous lesion patients are growing, in which 20% are aged 20-34. One in every five cases, therefore, happens to young women, so younger generations should not overlook this infectious virus.
As Taiwan Female Health Society Deputy Secretary General Chen Ching-hui (陳菁徽) highlights, 99.7% of cervical cancers are caused by HPV infections, mainly spread via sexual intercourses. Nearly 80% of women will be infected by HPV in their lives. If high-risk HPV infections are not eliminated in three to six months, precancerous lesions or even cervical cancers are likely to happen.
Photo: Staff
With such prevalence, many young ladies in Taiwan are unaware of cervical cancer prevention. With free smear tests offered by government in the past twenty years, test rates for women over 30 have reached 81%, says Chen. For women under 30, however, test rates have remained below 20%. Since precancerous lesion incidence rates are growing among young women in Taiwan, health education is required to women with sexual activities. Besides regular smear tests, says Chen, young women should also take vaccines as a proactive method to prevent cervical cancers.
HPV16 and HPV18 are causes to nearly 70% of cervical cancers worldwide. However, a major study with over 10,000 participants by Academia Sinica shows main HPV strains that lead to cervical cancer in Taiwan are HPV16, HPV58 and HPV52. HPV16 is an aggressive strain that causes the most cervical cancer cases, according to Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital OBGYN Dr. Zhou Hong-xue (周宏學). However, women in Taiwan should also be careful to the other two prevalent oncogenic types- HPV52 and HPV58.
Ten years ago, says Zhou, the first cancer prevention vaccine for cervical cancer was invented. Since then, scientists have been working hard to include more oncogenic HPV types to be able to further increase the vaccine protection. A new cervical cancer vaccine is finally released this year. In the past, bHPV and qHPV vaccines focused on HPV16 and 18 strains to prevent 70% of cervical cancer. However, HPV 52 and 58, prevalent in Taiwan, were not protected. If we include HPV52, 53, 31, 33, 45 and other high-risk strains, the protection of cervical cancer would increase to 90%.
The new cervical cancer vaccine include nine HPV types, including two low-risk ones, HPV6 and 11, as well as seven high-risk ones, HPV16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52 and 58. It can prevent cervical cancer, precancerous cervical lesion, cervical adenocarcinoma, vulva cancer and vaginal cancer precancerous lesion caused by those nine types.
In order to increase the awareness of cervical cancer and the importance of cervical cancer prevention among young ladies, Formosa Cancer Foundation invites actress Kuo Shu-yao as the ambassador of cervical cancer prevention this year. She has been vaccinated before her 26-year-old birthday as an example to show the importance to proactively prevent cervical cancer. She encourages women to take vaccines along with regular pap smear tests to stay away from HPV.
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