Today, we will look into eligibility for free cervical cancer screening. Some people mistakenly believe that cervical cancer is a disease that only affects women. Although it is rare, it can also occur in men, and it is more effective in preventing women if it occurs in men.
Below, you can find out who is eligible for free cervical cancer screening.
<Table of Contents>
Why cervical cancer is dangerous
Free cervical cancer screening inquiry
Cervical Cancer Symptoms
Why you need to get a cervical cancer injection quickly
Why cervical cancer is dangerous
Free cervical cancer screening 1
Cervical cancer is a cancer that is often mentioned, but people often take it lightly. However, although cervical cancer is preventable, it remains a dangerous disease. Here are the reasons why cervical cancer is dangerous.
High incidence: Cervical cancer is one of the most common types of cancer among women. Every year around the world, many women lose their lives due to cervical cancer. Therefore, cervical cancer should be recognized as an important health issue for women.
Incubation period: Cervical cancer may not show symptoms in the early stages and has a fairly long incubation period. This may cause you to mistakenly believe that there is no problem. However, even during this incubation period, cancer can progress little by little, so early detection is very important.
HPV infection: Cervical cancer is mainly caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is spread through sexual contact, and some infected women may be at risk of developing cervical cancer. HPV infection causes abnormalities in cervical cells and may progress to cancer in the long term.
Risk of Complications: Cervical cancer may initially appear to be a relatively treatable cancer. However, as the cancer progresses, it may metastasize to surrounding tissues or lymph nodes, making treatment difficult. Therefore, it is important to detect it early and start treatment.
Preventability: Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers. You can detect abnormalities early through regular cervical cancer screening and prevent HPV infection through HPV vaccination. This can greatly reduce the likelihood of developing cervical cancer.
Free cervical cancer screening inquiry
Eligible for free cervical cancer screening are women born in Korea and over 20 years of age. However, in odd-numbered years, those born in odd-numbered years are eligible for free testing, and in even-numbered years, those born in even-numbered years are eligible for free testing.
Therefore, in this year, 2024, people born in even-numbered years can be said to be eligible. (ex. Born in 90, 92, 94, 96) If you were born in an odd year, you are eligible for free testing from January 1 to December 31, 2025, the next year.
The reason for doing this is to prevent too many people from crowding the hospital. Usually, if you are eligible for free cervical cancer screening, you will receive a notification by mail or text/KakaoTalk. If you have not received a notification, you can check it on the National Health Insurance website.
You can continue to get this test every two years. Therefore, do not stop at just one time, but check frequently to detect it early.
Note: When performing a cervical cancer screening, if you have had a hysterectomy or have no sexual experience, please consult with your doctor in advance.
Check eligibility for free cervical cancer screening
Cervical Cancer Symptoms
Abnormal bleeding: Abnormal and irregular vaginal bleeding occurs and symptoms of irregular bleeding occur after sexual intercourse.
Pelvic pain: The uterus is close to the pelvis, and as cervical cancer progresses, it affects the area around the uterus, causing symptoms of pelvic pain and back pain, as well as leg swelling, urination problems, hematuria, and constipation.
Increased vaginal discharge: If the cancer mass dies or causes a secondary infection, foul-smelling vaginal discharge may increase. The amount of discharge increases, it smells, and it may be mixed with blood, so you need to look closely.
Increased pain during intercourse: Pain increases during or after intercourse.
Weight loss: Loss of appetite and unexplained weight loss may be a precursor symptom of other cancers, even if it is not cervical cancer.
Why you need to get a cervical cancer injection quickly
Free cervical cancer screening 2
There are many reasons to get a cervical cancer injection early. Let me tell you the main reasons.
Preventive effect: Cervical cancer injection prevents infection by the HPV virus in the human body and reduces the possibility of developing cervical cancer. HPV is known to be one of the main causes of cervical cancer. Getting the shot sooner can further improve the preventive effect.
Early diagnosis: If you get the cervical cancer injection early, you can detect any abnormalities in your cervix early. This allows for early detection and treatment, which increases the success rate of treatment. Cervical cancer may not show symptoms in the early stages, so it is important to be able to diagnose it early through injections.
Preventing Transmission: The HPV virus can be transmitted sexually. Getting the cervical cancer shot as soon as possible can help prevent infection with the HPV virus, reducing the chance of spreading it to yourself and your partner.
In summary, receiving a cervical cancer injection early increases the preventive effect, helps with early diagnosis and prevention of transmission, and is convenient to administer. However, it is recommended that you consult your doctor for more information to determine which prevention method is right for you.
HPV infection mainly occurs between the ages of 20 and 24, and then begins to decrease, gradually disappearing in the 40s and 50s. Of these, approximately 20% may remain infected and cause cancer.
When cervical cancer is detected early and appropriate treatment is administered, the treatment pattern is good, with the 5-year survival rate reaching 100%. Surgical treatment is performed in early stages 1 and 2. If there is lymph node metastasis, anticancer drug therapy and radiation therapy may be administered simultaneously. If the cancer progresses severely, chemotherapy and radiation treatment are performed without surgery.
Cervical cancer is the only cancer for which there is a vaccine. The cervical cancer vaccine can reduce the risk of the disease by producing antibodies, and the appropriate time for cervical cancer vaccination is between the ages of 15 and 17. Even if you have passed this age, you can expect effectiveness if you receive a cervical cancer injection before the age of 26, and vaccination is recommended even at this age or older.