Screening for cancer of uterine cervix and approaches adopted in India.

Cervical cancer is the leading malignancy among Indian women. It has been estimated that in the absence of any control programme, the incident number of cervical cancer cases in the country would rise to 140 thousand by the turn of this century. Cytology screening remains the main stay for the control of cervix cancer. In the present communication the evidence available for screening for cancer of cervix has been presented. Difficulties in organising cervical cancer screening programmes in India and the alternative approach have been discussed.