India, Aug. 26 -- Cervical cancer is a growth of cells that starts in the cervix, the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina. According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a chronic infection with a high-risk strain of the human papillomavirus (HPV) is the cause of cervical cancer in many instances.

According to the World Health Organisation, cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women globally, with around 660,000 new cases and around 350,000 deaths. In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Lakhan Kashyap, consultant (medical oncology), Manipal Hospitals Baner, Pune, discussed why it is the most devastating condition in women, procedures for identification and diagnosis, and the benefits of ...