• 
• 

Published on September 22, 2007

Vallop Thaineua, deputy public health minister, said yesterday that the ministry needed to be more active in screening for cervical cancer because the number of patients in Thailand was increasing at an alarming rate. Every year at least

6,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer, which

is now claiming about 3,000 lives annually. Cervical

cancer is most prevalent among women between 45 and 50.

Routine Pap smear tests have been deemed the most effective way of detecting cervical cancer, and every woman after the age of 35 should undergo the test every five years.

The ministry has introduced a Pap smear programme in 75 provinces, hoping to have at least 800,000 women go in for tests. However, only 435,995 women or 54 per cent of the targeted number joined the programme last year. Of those tested, 6,276 were diagnosed with abnormal cervix cells, 384 with full-blown cervical cancer and 5,892 in the beginning stage.

"Many women don't know what causes cervical cancer, and most of them are uncomfortable with undergoing tests," Vallop said.

The national cancer institute also introduced a cancer prevention and control programme in 2004, hoping to cut the number of cases by at least half in five years.

Pongphon Sarnsamak

 The Nation