Model-actor Poonam Pandey has died due to cervical cancer. 32-year-old social media star’s team shared the news on her Instagram account. She reportedly died at her family home in Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur.
“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,” her team wrote in a post shared on Pandey’s Instagram.
The news has left her followers in shock with many of them paying their tributes to Pandey in the comments section on her Instagram. Four days ago, Pandey had shared a clip of herself at an event in Goa.
News of her death comes a day after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the government’s plan to promote cervical cancer vaccination among girls aged 9 to 14. The vaccination protection against specific strains of cervical cancer. Read on to know everything about cervical cancer.
What is cervical cancer?
Cervical cancer occurs when there is a growth of cells in the cervix which is the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cervical cancer most often in people over age 30. The CDC maintains that long-lasting infection with certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV) is the main cause of cervical cancer. HPV is a common virus that is transmitted from one person to another during sex. At least half of sexually active people will have HPV at some point in their lives, but few will get cervical cancer.
What are the symptoms of cervical cancer?
The symptoms of cervical cancer include:
Vaginal bleeding after intercourse, between periods or after menopause.
Menstrual bleeding that is heavier and lasts longer than usual.
Watery, bloody vaginal discharge that may be heavy and have a foul odor.
Pelvic pain or pain during intercourse.
What are risk factors of cervical cancer?
- Smoking tobacco
- Increasing number of sexual partners
- Having sex at an early age increases your risk of contracting HPV.
- Weak immune system
- Sexually transmitted infections like herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV/AIDS can increase the risk of HPV
- Miscarriage prevention medicine can increase the risk of cervical cancer
When to see a doctor?
Make an appointment with a doctor or other health care professional if you have any of the symptoms of cervical cancer.
How cervical cancer is diagnosed and treated?
A thorough exam of your cervix is suggested if you might have cervical cancer. Punch biopsy, Endocervical curettage, Electrical wire loop, Cone biopsy are some tests that prescribed for cervical cancer. If you’re diagnosed with cervical cancer, you might need other tests to find out the extent of the cancer. These tests include: Imaging tests and visual examination of your bladder and rectum.
How cervical cancer is treated?
Treatment for cervical cancer depends on several factors, such as the stage of the cancer and various other factors. Treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.
- Surgery: Doctors remove cancer tissue in an operation.
- Chemotherapy: Using special medicines to shrink or kill the cancer. The drugs can be pills you take or medicines given in your veins, or sometimes both.
- Radiation: Using high-energy rays (similar to X-rays) to kill the cancer.
- Targeted therapy: Targeted therapy uses medicines that attack specific chemicals in the cancer cells.
- Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy is a treatment with medicine that helps your immune system kill cancer cells
How to prevent cervical cancer?
- Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine. Cervavac is India’s first indigenous HPV vaccine, launched in January 2023, It has been developed and manufactured by Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII).
- Screening tests
- Use condoms during sex