Cervical cancer deaths: a blind spot in global women’s health

The Lancet Global Health Blog "Even the best drivers have a blind spot in their vision, an area in the periphery that remains just out of view but may reveal critical danger. Among global health priorities, policy blind spots also persist. Cervical cancer is a notable example. Preventable, detectable, and treatable at early stages, it remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Globally, 528,000 new cases and 266,000 deaths from cervical cancer occurred in 2012 alone. And unlike health issues that demand everything from vector control to sociocultural shifts before having impact, cervical cancer can be detected and treated with evidence-based, inexpensive solutions that are well adapted for low-resource contexts. Yet, the disease, and those affected by it, often remain out of sight when talking about women’s health." (Photo: DFID - UK Department for International Development/flickr, CC BY 2.0)

• globalhealth.thelancet.com