Cervical Cancer Awareness Month started in Kyrgyzstan on November 17. The chief specialist of the Department of Medical Care and Drug Policy of the Ministry of Health, Raisa Asylbasheva, told reporters.
According to her, cervical cancer ranks second among cancer incidence in women after breast cancer.
«Unfortunately, patients seek medical help very late, in the third and fourth stages, when the process cannot be stopped. Doctors are trying to prolong the lives of patients. However, the healthcare system alone cannot cope. Therefore, every woman after 45 should undergo a routine examination and be observed by gynecologists in order to prevent morbidity,» Raisa Asylbasheva said.
The head of the National Center of Oncology and Hematology, Baktygul Sultangazieva, noted that up to 300 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer for the first time every year in the republic. «In total, more than 30,000 cancer patients are registered throughout the country. Every year, 5,500-6,000 citizens are diagnosed with cancer for the first time. Unfortunately, about 3,500 of them die in the first year after diagnosis. The same statistics can be applied to cervical cancer. Even the second stage is considered to be advanced,» she emphasized.
Baktygul Sultangazieva added that a national oncology program has been developed to detect health problems in the early stages. Financial needs are being calculated.
The WHO Global Strategy to Eliminate Cervical Cancer was adopted on November 17, 2020 and Kyrgyzstan joined it.
