Cervical cancer remains one of the most preventable yet deadly cancers worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, nearly 95 to 99 per cent of cervical cancer cases are caused by persistent infection with high-risk HPV, a virus so common that almost everyone who isn’t vaccinated will contract it at some point in their life.

Dr. Eva Ramón Gallegos, a researcher from Mexico, offers new hope in this battle. After years of dedicated work, she and her team have investigated an innovative treatment known as photodynamic therapy (PDT), and their early results are quite promising.

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The Study That Sparks Hope

Dr. Eva Ramón Gallegos and her team worked on a study titled “Elimination of Human Papillomavirus and Cervical Pathological Microbiota with Photodynamic Therapy in Women from Mexico City with Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia I.” It involved 29 women from Mexico City who were diagnosed with CIN I (Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia grade 1), HPV infection, or both. The Aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy was applied, and outcomes were monitored for over six months. The results were both clear and astonishing:

• HPV was completely cleared in all the women treated.
• Precancerous changes in the cervix improved — shrinking by nearly two-thirds in women who had both HPV and early lesions, and by more than half in women with early lesions alone.
• The therapy also helped clear common vaginal infections:
  • Chlamydia disappeared in more than 8 out of 10 women.
  • Candida was eliminated in 8 out of 10 women.
• Importantly, the treatment protected the body’s healthy bacteria, showing that this therapy only targets harmful cells without harming the good ones.

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What Makes This Breakthrough Special?

Dr. Gallegos applied a special compound called delta-aminolevulinic acid to the cervix. Once inside the body, this compound transforms into an active substance that, when exposed to a specific kind of laser light, destroys HPV-infected cells without harming the surrounding healthy tissue.

In small-scale studies, her method has shown the ability to clear HPV infections, in some cases completely. While more research and larger trials are needed, these results open exciting new possibilities for tackling a virus that puts millions of women at risk of cancer each year.

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Why It Matters for Indian Women

• A heavy burden: India leads the world in cervical cancer, with around 123,900 new cases and over 77,000 deaths annually. That’s nearly a quarter of global cervical cancer deaths.
• Early detection remains rare: Despite the urgency, fewer than 2 per cent of Indian women undergo screening. In some regions, it’s as low as 1 per cent.
• Barriers to care: Lack of awareness, social stigma, limited access to clinics, and the cost of screenings all prevent many women, especially in rural and underserved areas, from getting screened.
• Hope for change: In this challenging context, Dr. Eva Ramón Gallegos’ minimally invasive, fertility-sparing photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT) offers a powerful new possibility. If its early promise holds, this treatment could not only help minimise cervical cancer but also make a real difference for women across India.

While vaccines and regular screenings remain the gold standards for prevention, Dr. Gallegos’ work adds a powerful layer of hope for those already living with HPV. Photodynamic therapy is non-invasive, fertility-sparing, and could one day become a game-changing tool in reducing cervical cancer rates.

Science is still in its early stages with this therapy, but breakthroughs like this remind us that innovation, persistence, and vision can open doors to healthier futures, led by women for women!

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Cervical cancer is largely preventable through vaccination and screening, but new therapies like Dr. Eva Ramón Gallegos’ photodynamic treatment show that the world is moving closer to not just preventing but possibly eliminating the virus that causes it.

Don’t wait for symptoms — cervical cancer can be prevented. Speak to a specialist at Urlife and get the right guidance on HPV and screening. Take care of your body and mind to feel your best. Sign up here to unlock holistic health.