Awareness Lecture on Cervical Cancer

DATE Feb 21, 2025

The Smt. Shanti Gupta Centre for Women’s Studies (SSGCWS), MIER organized an awareness lecture on "Cervical Cancer" to educate and sensitize faculty members from MIER College of Education and Model Academy School, along with students from the School of Education.

The resource persons for the session were Dr. Reetika Menia and Dr. Shivani Gandhi, both serving as Assistant Professors in the Department of Pathology at AIIMS, Vijaypur, Jammu.

The event commenced with a warm welcome note by Mrs. Jyoti Sharma, a member of SSGCWS, who also introduced the distinguished speakers. She highlighted that Dr. Reetika Menia, an MBBS and DNB holder in Pathology, has previously served as a Senior Resident at ESIC Medical College and Hospital, Faridabad, Haryana, and has contributed significantly to pathology through various publications. Dr. Shivani Gandhi, holding an MBBS and MD in Pathology, brings over six years of experience with extensive research, having presented and published her work in numerous national and international journals.

During their presentations, the experts elaborated on the causes, symptoms, risk factors, early detection, and treatment options for cervical cancer. They explained that the disease is primarily caused by persistent infection with high-risk strains of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), which is transmitted through sexual contact. They discussed common symptoms, such as abnormal vaginal bleeding, pelvic pain, and discomfort during intercourse, which often remain unnoticed in the early stages.

The doctors emphasized significant risk factors, including early sexual activity, multiple sexual partners, smoking, and a weakened immune system. Stressing the importance of early detection, they recommended routine Pap smear tests and HPV DNA testing to identify precancerous changes before they progress into cervical cancer. They also highlighted the effectiveness of HPV vaccination for young girls and boys as a vital preventive measure.

The session concluded with an interactive open-house discussion, where attendees actively engaged with the experts, seeking clarifications on various aspects of cervical cancer. To gauge the audience's understanding, a general awareness questionnaire was also distributed.

The event concluded with Mrs. Rupa Gupta, Director of the Centre, presenting mementos to the esteemed resource persons as a token of appreciation for their valuable insights and contributions.