According to National Center for Biotechnology Information cervical cancer is a major cause of cancer mortality in women and more than a quarter of its global burden is contributed by developing countries. In India, despite alarmingly high figures, there is no nationwide government-sponsored screening program. However, the Public Health Research Institute in India (PHRII) has recognized this issue and has been performing pap smears in rural areas free at cost to women below the poverty line or any women concerned for her health. Yet since India is culturally, economically, and sociodemographically dissimilar from other Western countries we come across situations that hinders the women to seek for examination or treatment. A woman’s health in an Indian family is extremely important as they are not just being the foundation of the family but the entire community as she is recognized as a caregiver. For this reason, women disregard painful or abnormal symptoms in order to no be considered a burden on her family which in fact hurts the family even more when early detection and treatment could save her life, literally. Other issues include, lack of transportation, belief that doctors insert tracking devices during examination, disbelief of western medicine, shyness of the body and lastly religious entities. With the lack of education of this major, global health issue woman do not go by the recommended rule of getting a pap smear done every 3 years after the age of 21. With the negligence of doing so can cause more serious sexual diseases can mature such as HIV.

          While aiding the PHRII staff with the annual Health Camp I was able to gain the field experience I need credible for attending medical school. This included me being able to work with international patients that differ from my own language, culture, and customs. As the PHRII staff provided all the necessary paperwork for follow ups, checkups, and the equipment for pap smears and screenings in rural areas I was able to assist with this process by recording the patient’s height, weight and blood pressure. Subsequently, I was taken into the examination room, where I was able to directly observe a screening with the permission of the patient. Prior to the camp, we had a lecture by Dr. Vijaya on cervical cancer. She explained the anatomy of the vagina, HPV, and the importance and process of a screening. Stepping into that room, I was ready to take the information I learned in class into the field for a full understanding. Dr. Vijaya was also our doctor at the camp and while in the examination room she explained all the steps of the screening as she conducted them, including an explanation of the cervix and the tools needed. 

          If in fact a patient is diagnosed with cervical cancer treatments can range from complementary to alternative medicine. Complementary methods refer to treatments that are used along with your regular medical care while the alternative methods can include vitamins, herbs, and special diets, or other methods such as acupuncture or massage. For some people, when treatments have been tried and are no longer controlling the cancer, it could be time to weigh the benefits and risks of continuing to try new treatments. Whether or not you continue treatment, there are still things you can do to help maintain or improve your quality of life so keep an open mind when choosing the type of treatment, you want and need.

          Overall being able to study abroad to India had opened opportunity for me to make a difference in the world that I never thought I had a chance at doing. Every day that I have a spent in India has pushed me to become eager to embark my presence in the medical field as well as my major in psychology. The next step to changing the statistics of women in India lacking the governments help with providing these screening you can donate or simply change how cervical cancer is looked in you own communities.

          

​

​

          References:

1.Bobdey, Saurabh, et al. “Burden of Cervical Cancer and Role of Screening in India .” Advances in Pediatrics., U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2016, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5234166/.

2. "Treating Cervical Cancer.” American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org/cancer/cervical-cancer/treating.html.