Necessity is the Mother of Invention - Yoland Antill Today I was humbled as I listened to a presentation that reminded me that sometimes it is the most simple things that can result in such significant difference. Cervical cancer is the number one cause of cancer deaths in women of developing countries. Early detection of the precancerous changes, with referral for simple but cancer preventing treatment, is the difference between life and death for these women. While we are privileged to have a funded national screening program in Australia, no such screening program exists in India or many of the other countries of the developing world. In India, each year, 142 000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and more than 77 000 die of their disease. At today’s plenary session at ASCO, Dr Shastri presented on behalf of his research team, the results of a study that could potentially change the history of this terrible and deadly disease. With patience and persistence, his team pushed through the social and political barriers, to bring a simple screening test to the women of the slums in Mumbai. The screening test required no laboratories, used local health workers who were easily trained in the technique and costs a fraction of the standard costs of the Pap test that we have in Australia. The strengths and outcomes of this study were extraordinary. Over a 15 year period, they followed 150 000 women with screening for precancerous changes using a simple method with vinegar swabs!! Among the 75 000 women who were part of the screening intervention, they reduced the chance of dying from cervix cancer by over 30% compared to the other half of the women in the trial (known as the comparison group). These women were given an education class about cervix cancer but no screening was offered (which is the normal practice in India). The study was reviewed at the meeting by a specialist in the field, Dr Electra Paskett, and it was estimated that if this was used in all developing countries that around 250 000 deaths would be prevented from this disease each year. The audience of 25 000 oncologists applauded and applauded and just kept on applauding. The president of ASCO was bought to tears as she witnessed the recognition that was given to a truly magnificent piece of work which could be applied to even the most remote and resource scarce community.
Posted on: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 06:57:02 +0000