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More about Jade's condition Reality star Jade Goody had to withdraw from the second series of Bigg Boss after being diagnosed with cervical cancer. She has been asked to have a hysterectomy, as she has a large tumour in her womb. It has been revealed that Jade Goody might have only had three months to live, if her secondary cancer had not been detected in time.

Cervical cancer is the number one killer of women in India. Celebrity Big Brother star Jade Goody was recently diagnosed with it, and actor Hrithik Roshan's sister, Sunaina, successfully battled it. So what is cervical cancer? Who is at risk? Is there a cure for it? Here's all you wanted to know about the condition.

Women who are sexually active are at risk

"Cervical cancer or cancer of the cervix is an abnormal growth of malignant (cancer) cells in the cervix. It's the second-most common cancer in females, and it's successfully curable in the early stages."

Risk factors for cervical cancer

Several risk factors increase your chance of developing cervical cancer. 
> Early marriage, or sexual intercourse, at an early age.
> Having sex with multiple partners.
> Frequent child birth.
> Poor hygiene.
> Ninty-eight per cent of cancer of the cervix is caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). It is passed from one person to another during sexual intercourse, and gets into the DNA of the cervix, alters the cervical cells and promotes cancer.
Cure If detected in the early stages, cervical cancer is completely curable.

Dr Kiran Coelho
Head of Department of Gynecology, Lilavati Hospital


"Cervical cancer, in particular, is a disease that predominantly strikes women between the age of 40 and 60. If detected in the early stages, the chances of getting cured are 90%, while in the later stages, it drops to 50%."

symptoms of cervical cancer
Inter-menustrual spotting, foul -smelling vaginal discharge and experiencing pain or discomfort during sex.

treatment and cure
Any woman, who is sexually active, should have a Pap Smear test done every year, as it helps detect changes in the cells of your cervix. If your tests are positive for abnormal cells, it's best to go for a cervical biopsy. In the early stages of the cancer, surgery is the main treatment, while radiotherapy can also be effective.

Dr Suresh Advani
Director of Department of Oncology, Jaslok Hospital

Statistics on cervical cancer

Cervical cancer is a life threatening disease and is the most frequent cancer among women in India. India has a population of 365.71 million women, and women of 15 years of age and above, are at a risk of developing cervical cancer.

Current estimates indicate that every year, 1,32,082 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer, and 74,118 die from the disease. The cumulative risk of incidence of cervical cancer in women in India (age 0-64 years) is 2.4%, compared to 1.3% for the world.