Cervical cancer is preventable: In two-thirds of women, cancer is detected at an inoperable stage

The Public Health Institute has called on all women aged 30 to 50 to contact their chosen gynecologist and schedule a screening.

The data show that 9 people aged 14 to 6.114 received the HPV vaccine, 15 in the secondary target group aged 18 to 2.284, while around 1.000 adults received the vaccine.

54186 views 43 reactions 15 comment(s)
WHO estimates for 2020 rank Montenegro in first place in terms of cervical cancer incidence, Photo: Shutterstock
WHO estimates for 2020 rank Montenegro in first place in terms of cervical cancer incidence, Photo: Shutterstock
Disclaimer: The translations are mostly done through AI translator and might not be 100% accurate.

In two-thirds of women who reported to the oncology council of the Clinical Center of Montenegro (KCCG) due to a diagnosis of cervical cancer, the cancer was discovered at a stage when it was impossible to operate on it.

This was announced by the Institute of Public Health (IJZ) on the eve of the European Cervical Cancer Prevention Week. The data shows that in 2023, 93 newly diagnosed women were presented to the Oncology Council, and in 57, cervical cancer was detected at an inoperable stage of the disease.

"This indicates that in most cases the disease is diagnosed when it is advanced, when treatment becomes difficult and uncertain...", the Public Health Institute states.

Two cancers detected during two-year screening

"Cervical cancer screening is a preventive examination that allows the detection of changes in the cervix, which can lead to cancer. If a malignant disease is detected during the screening examination, it is highly likely that it is in an early stage, because there are still no symptoms and signs of cancer. Cervical cancer can be completely cured if detected at an early stage," the IJZ reminds.

The target group for screening is women without symptoms of the disease, who are between 30 and 50 years old.

Specialist epidemiologist, director of the Center for Control and Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases, Dr. Andrijana Vujović says that although we have had a national screening program since 2016, a large number of women still fall ill, and we must work to raise awareness and ensure that everyone is aware of the possibilities for prevention. The goal, he says, is to detect the disease at an early stage, which allows for better treatment.

Vujović explains that the primary screening test is the HPV test and that taking a cervical smear for this diagnosis is a simple, quick and painless method.

He says that, according to the new methodology, an LBC analysis (liquid-based cytology) is immediately performed on the same sample, which means that the two analyses are performed in one step, thus eliminating the need to visit the gynecologist again. He also explains that a positive HPV result does not mean that the patient has cancer or will develop it, but is referred for additional diagnostics, while women with a negative result are invited for a new test in five years.

Vujović emphasizes that over the past two years, 40 percent of women responded to screening, and 14 percent were HPV positive and referred for additional diagnostics. In the same period, according to Vujović, 22 cases of premalignant changes and two cases of cancer were confirmed, one of which was inoperable.

"I urge all women aged 30 to 50 to contact their chosen gynecologist today and schedule a screening," says Vujović.

About 11.500 people vaccinated

The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, if administered on time, can prevent nine out of ten cases of cervical cancer, anal cancer and genital warts. Although the safety of the vaccine has been proven in numerous studies and about 500 million doses have already been given in 140 countries around the world, in Montenegro there is not much interest in protecting girls and boys from the HPV virus. HPV is present in about 90-99 percent of cases of cervical cancer, and types 16 and 18 are responsible for about 50 to 70 percent of cases of this cancer, and seven high-risk types (16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52 and 58) are considered responsible for a total of up to 90 percent of all cases of cervical cancer.

HPV vaccination for girls began in Montenegro in September 2022, while it has been available to boys since February 2024. The primary target group for vaccination is girls and boys aged 9 to 14, when the vaccine is most effective, and the vaccine is also available for the age groups 15 to 18, as well as 19 to 26.

According to the Public Health Institute, 9.500 girls and 2.000 boys have been vaccinated in Montenegro so far. They say that the nine-valent vaccine is used in our country, with the widest range of protection of the available HPV vaccines, and that the costs of vaccination for age groups for which vaccination is recommended are fully covered by the state health system.

Data show that 9 people aged 14 to 6.114 received the HPV vaccine, 15 in the secondary target group aged 18 to 2.284, while around 1.000 adults received the vaccine.

Cetinje, Kotor, Danilovgrad and Podgorica record the best results in vaccinating girls and boys against HPV.

Cancer that can be prevented

The Public Health Institute reminds that cervical cancer can be prevented by HPV vaccination, avoiding sexual intercourse at an early age, using condoms, going for regular gynecological examinations, and actively participating in an organized cervical cancer screening program. Cervical cancer is an exception among other cancers because every new case can be prevented by applying adequate, reliable, and simple methods that identify changes in the cervix before they become malignant.

World Health Organization (WHO) estimates for 2020 rank Montenegro first in terms of age-standardized incidence rate (26,2/100.000 women) and age-standardized mortality rate (10,5/100.000 women) from cervical cancer in the European Region.

Worldwide prevalence data shows that cervical cancer is among the leading malignant diseases in women, right after breast cancer. It most commonly occurs worldwide in women aged between 40 and 45, but is increasingly occurring in women under 30.

Bonus video: