1. The scenario of cervical cancer in a rural medical college hospital

The present study aims at determining the prevalence of cervical cancer in rural teaching hospital and to know the stage of the disease at the time of diagnosis and treatment of cervical cancer. It is a retrospective study of 108 cases of cervical cancer above 30 years of age. We studied during the period January 2009 to December 2010 in the department of Obstetrics and gynecology, Sri Devaraj Urs medical college, Tamaka, Kolar, India. Patients were treated accordingly to the stage of the disease. Out of 108 women, 46 (42.6%) women were in the age group 41-50. Of total 108 patients, 94.44 % were Hindus, 2.77 % were Muslims and 2.77 % Christians. The parity of majority (78) of the patients was above 3. Out of the 108 women undergoing cervical biopsy, 101 (93.51%) had squamous cell carcinoma, 6 (5.55%) had adenocarcinoma & 1 (0.92%) had adeno-squamous carcinoma. 100 (92.57) women came with stage II B and above, 6 (5.55%) women came with stage IB2 & IIA & 2 (1.85%) women came with vault recurrence. Women who came in stage IIA or less underwent Wertheim’s hysterectomy which included 6 (5.55%). 100 (92.59%) had chemoradiation & 2 (1.85%) had palliative therapy. As almost all patients (92.57%) with cervical cancer were in advanced stage. High prevalence of advanced cervical cancer indicates very poor cervical cancer screening program in this area. Public education, effective cervical cancer screening strategies using PAP smear, visual inspection with acetic acid & cervical tissue sampling whenever required will reduce the prevalence of advanced cervical cancer.