A recent AIIMS study has revealed a concerning reality: a significant number of women in remote areas of Uttarakhand have no awareness of breast and cervical cancer, two of the most common and life-threatening cancers among women. The study, published in the US-based journal “Cancer Causes and Control”, exposes the alarming lack of knowledge in these communities.
Conducted in collaboration with UCOST, the study focused on 589 women from four remote development blocks in Pauri district—Nainidanda, Rikhanikhal, Jaiharikhal, and Pokhra—between January 2022 and December 2023. It found that 38% of women were completely unaware that breast cancer even exists, while 79% had never heard of cervical cancer.
According to Dr. Deepak Sundriyal of AIIMS Rishikesh, who led the study, only 6.5% of women knew about the HPV vaccine used to prevent cervical cancer. Even among women who had heard of these diseases, 14–50% could not recognize any early symptoms.
However, the study revealed a promising insight—57% of respondents expressed willingness to undergo regular screening if facilities and information were made accessible. This indicates that awareness and accessibility are key to preventing late-stage cancer diagnoses in remote areas.
Recommendations from the research team include:
- Regular awareness drives in rural regions
- Training primary health workers to screen and recognize cancer symptoms
- Empowering ASHA workers with responsibilities in cancer education and screening
The study was supported financially by UCOST, with survey assistance from V.N. Sharma and the Uttarakhand Human Service Committee. The research team included Dr. Deepak Sundriyal, Dr. Amit Sahrawat, Dr. Yogesh Bahuroopi, Dr. Shalini Rajaram, Dr. Mahendra Singh, Dr. Pradeep Agrawal, Dr. Sweety Gupta, and Dr. Preeti.
