In recent years, the Indonesian government has intensified efforts to prevent cervical cancer. Recently, the HPV vaccine began being distributed for free as part of these preventive measures. Concern about cervical cancer has also emerged from society, such as through the Cervical Cancer Awareness Community, which is focused on raising awareness of this disease. With the significant efforts and attention given by various parties, how serious is cervical cancer?

According to data from Global Cancer Today (GLOBOCAN) in 2022, cervical cancer accounted for more than 600,000 new cases worldwide, with deaths reaching 342,000. In Indonesia, cervical cancer is the second most common type of cancer in women after breast cancer, with over 36,000 new cases each year. The mortality rate is also high, with nearly 21,000 deaths annually. These high numbers demonstrate that cervical cancer poses a serious threat to women worldwide.
 

What Causes Cervical Cancer?

Cervical cancer occurs due to abnormal cell growth in the cervix, mainly caused by infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV). This virus is transmitted through sexual contact, and the risk increases with factors such as having multiple sexual partners, smoking, or marrying at a young age. Most men and women who are sexually active have been infected with HPV at least once in their lifetime. However, in many cases, HPV infections clear up on their own due to the immune system within two years. But if the infection persists, it can develop into genital warts or cervical cancer.

A lack of awareness about the importance of early detection and vaccination is a key reason behind the high number of cervical cancer cases in Indonesia. In 2020, the Ministry of Health reported that only 9.35% of Indonesian women underwent cervical cancer screening. Consequently, more than 70% of new cases are diagnosed in the later stages when cancer has already damaged organs like the bladder and kidneys. At this stage, treatment becomes much more difficult and expensive.

The progression of HPV into cervical cancer can be very slow, often taking decades. In the early stages, HPV infections usually show no symptoms, meaning many people are unaware they are infected until symptoms appear, and the cancer has already begun to develop. This is why early detection is crucial, as detecting the infection early can prevent it from developing into cancer and allow for timely treatment before it becomes fatal.

Studies show that routine screening every 3-5 years can reduce the risk of cervical cancer by up to 80%. Since 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended HPV testing as the primary method for detecting cervical cancer, replacing Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) and cytology (Pap smear). This is because HPV DNA tests can detect the virus before abnormal cells begin to develop into cancer, providing an earlier opportunity for necessary intervention.

HPV DNA Testing Innovation by Nusantics

To support early detection efforts for cervical cancer in Indonesia, Nusantics has introduced the PathoScan hrHPV qPCR Kit, a cervical cancer screening tool utilizing the HPV DNA testing method. This test can detect HPV at an early stage with a sensitivity rate of 96.55%, higher than traditional detection methods like IVA (50-88.6%) and Pap smears (30-87%). With high sensitivity, the HPV DNA test from Nusantics can accurately detect the presence of HPV as the primary cause of cervical cancer.

Nusantics also offers a more comfortable sample collection option using urine to address the fears many women have about invasive procedures like cervical swabs. This innovation aims to make early cervical cancer detection easier and more accessible to all women in Indonesia. 

With advancing technology and early detection innovations, preventing cervical cancer is not impossible. Early detection is critical since cervical cancer often shows no symptoms in its early stages. Modern detection methods like HPV DNA tests allow for more effective treatment. With the support of various parties, women are expected to have broader access to protect their reproductive health.

Sources:

• Cancer Research UK. (n.d.). Stages of Cervical Cancer. Retrieved from Cancer Research UK

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (n.d.). Cancers Caused by HPV. Retrieved from CDC

• Ekawati, F. M., Listiani, P., Idaiani, S., At Thobari, J., & Hafidz, F. (2024). Cervical Cancer Screening Program in Indonesia: Is it Time to Use HPV-DNA Testing? BMC Women's Health, 24:125. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-024-02946-y

• International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). (n.d.). Global Cancer Observatory. Retrieved from IARC

• Lestari, A. I., & Hidayat, B. (2019). Early Detection of Conventional Smear and Liquid Based Cytology in Efforts to Prevent Cervical Cancer: A Systematic Review. Journal of Reproductive Health, 6(2), 1-12. Available online at Journal of Reproductive Health. DOI: 10.22146/jkr.42627

• Nusantics. (n.d.). How HPV Infection Can Become Cancer. Retrieved from Nusantics Blog

• Nusantics. (n.d.). PathoScan hrHPV. Retrieved from Nusantics Products

• Superdrug Health Clinics. (2021). Can HPV be Cured? Retrieved from Superdrug

• World Health Organization. (2022). Comprehensive Cervical Cancer Control: A Guide to Essential Practice. Retrieved from WHO

• Kementerian Kesehatan Republik Indonesia. (2023). National Action Plan (RAN) for Cervical Cancer Elimination in Indonesia 2023-2030. Retrieved from Kementerian Kesehatan