Vitoria, (EFE).- The early detection program for cervical cancer (cervix) launched in 2018 by Osakidetza makes it possible to detect 4 out of 10 cases. In 70% of the time these are in an initial stage, which significantly increases the chances of survival.
On the occasion of tomorrow’s celebration of World Cervix Cancer Prevention Day, the Department of Health has recalled that nearly 400,000 women have been invited to participate in these screenings in the Basque Country. Last year they reached 100% coverage in women between 25 and 34 years of age. In 2024 they will reach those who are 65 years old.
In 2022 alone, 102,426 samples have been analyzed. Of the women who are tested, the vast majority have a low-risk result. On the other hand, 7% require a more exhaustive study to confirm the diagnosis.
This type of program in which participation is actively invited is very important in the case of this type of pathology. This is so because 60% of diagnoses occur in people who have never been screened or who have been screened inadequately.
400 cases of cancer
In the Basque Country, between 2018 and 2021 there have been nearly 400 cases of cervical cancer. Of these, around 40% have been detected through the program.
In addition, among those found through screening, 72.06% were in early stages. This also has an impact on the survival rate, since mortality is 36.23% in the case of people whose cancer is detected by symptomatology or casual finding.
Among those diagnosed through the program, mortality is 2.94%. The main objective of this initiative is to detect people who are at higher risk of having a cervical lesion and thus be able to prevent it from evolving into cancer.
In recent years, Osakidetza recalls in a note that many advances have been made in the prevention of this cancer. The use of tests for the detection of high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) as a screening test stands out, since this virus is the cause of practically all cases of cervical cancer.
Osakidetza has a unified screening unit at the Donostia University Hospital. It analyzes all the samples.
Notification by letter or SMS
The program sends a notification via SMS or letter inviting women between the ages of 25 and 65 to participate in it.
Through the message you can make an appointment with the midwife who will perform the screening test. The test consists of taking a sample of the cells that line the cervix.
The results are also received by SMS, except when it is necessary to repeat the test or referral to Gynecology is considered. In this case, the explanation is done through a phone call.
In this regard, the “Osasun Eskola” section of the Osakidetza website has published some videos that help women understand what HPV is. They also explain what it means to have an altered result and what are the complementary tests that could be done in these cases.
The program began in stages in the different zones. In 2019 it was fully implemented throughout the Osakidetza network.
However, the invitation to participate in the screening was done in stages depending on the age range, starting with the youngest. EFE
