Model and actress Poonam Pandey died due to cervical cancer at the age of 32, her manager informed on Friday. Pandey passed away on Thursday night at her family home in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, her team told News18.
"This morning is a tough one for us. Deeply saddened to inform you that we have lost our beloved Poonam to cervical cancer. Every living form that ever came in contact with her was met with pure love and kindness. In this time of grief, we would request privacy while we remember her fondly for all that we shared," read a statement shared by Pandey's team on her official Instagram handle.
Cervical cancer, the fourth most common cancer among women worldwide, develops in the cervix. In 2018, around 5,70,000 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer across the world, while an estimated 3,11,000 died from the disease, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Among cervical cancer patients, maximum cases (99%) are linked to infection with high-risk human papillomaviruses (HPV), which is transmitted through sexual contact and is an extremely common virus.
As per WHO, cervical cancer is among the most curable types of cancer, as long as it is identified early and treated appropriately. Palliative care combined with the right treatment can help control cancers that have been detected in their later stages.
Meanwhile, presenting the Interim Budget on Thursday, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the Centre aims to encourage vaccination for girls between the age groups of 9 to 14 years for the prevention of cervical cancer.
Cervical cancer: Causes
Human papillomavirus or HPV is the main cause of most of the cervical cancer cases around the world. It can affect the skin, genital area and throat. Most of the sexually active people will be infected at some point in their lives, usually without symptoms, WHO states.
While, in maximum cases the immune system clears HPV from the body, persistent infection with high-risk HPV can cause abnormal cells to develop, which later transform into cancer. Usually it takes 15–20 years for the abnormal cells to become cancerous. However, in women with weakened immune systems, this process can be faster and take 5–10 years.
Among those at a high risk of developing cervical cancer are young mothers, hormonal contraceptive users and smokers, among others.
Cervical cancer: Symptoms
As per the WHO, the common symptoms for cervical cancer are:
1. Unusual bleeding between periods, after menopause, or after sexual intercourse.
2. Increased or foul-smelling vaginal discharge.
3. Persistent pain in the back, legs, or pelvis.
4. Weight loss, fatigue and loss of appetite.
5. Vaginal discomfort.
6. Swelling in the legs.
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