Cervical cancer: a snapshot of patients entering the public health system

Keywords

cervical cancer - survival rate - public health system

Over 300,000 women worldwide die from cervical cancer each year. Mortality rates are nearly five times higher in low- and middle-income countries of Latin America compared to high-income regions of the world. The present study aimed to identify the profile of the cervical cancer population entering a Unified Health System (Sistema Unico de Saude; SUS) Oncology Service in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and estimate the percentage of deaths that occurred during the evaluated period. Patients with cervical cancer diagnoses confirmed by histopathology and immunohistochemistry between January 2022 and September 2023 were included in the study. Patient data were recorded in Microsoft Excel spreadsheets and analyzed for the frequency of observed variables. The percentage of deaths during the studied period as well as complications resulting from advanced cancer were recorded in February 2024. The study included 21 patients with cervical cancer diagnoses confirmed by histopathology. The average age of the patients was 45 years. Squamous cell carcinoma was the most prevalent histopathological type (85.7%) followed by adenocarcinoma (14.3%) (p = 0.0023). The majority of patients were stage III (66.6%); the remaining patients were stage II (19%), stage IV (9.5%), and stage I (4.7%) (p = 0.0001). All patients underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Regarding complications from advanced cervical cancer, 23.8% of patients developed acute renal failure, and most (80%) required nephrostomy. Approximately 10% of patients developed rectovaginal fistula, and another 10% presented with malignant hypercalcemia. Five patients (23.8%) died during the studied period: two from malignant hypercalcemia, one from acute renal failure, and the remaining two had neither complication. Cervical cancer remains a major public health challenge despite being considered a preventable and treatable disease. The long natural history of the human papillomavirus (HPV) carcinogenesis offers a window of opportunity for disease prevention, and prophylactic vaccination can reduce the incidence of causal infections. In addition to preventive and educational measures essential for disease control, facilitating access of patients with confirmed diagnoses to specialized health services is crucial to promote the earliest possible cancer treatment.

Corresponding author: Ana Lúcia Crissiuma de Azevedo Juppa (e-mail: [e-mail]).

 

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No conflict of interest has been declared by the author(s).

Publication History

Article published online:
06 May 2025