UK cervical cancer deaths have fallen by around 80 percent since 1950

mind & bodyOur World in Data1950–present · United Kingdom

UK cervical cancer deaths have fallen by around 80 percent since 1950

the gist

Cervical cancer death rates among women in the United Kingdom have dropped by roughly 80 percent since 1950. The fall reflects decades of progress in prevention and treatment, including screening that catches abnormal cells early and vaccination against the human papillomavirus, the virus behind nearly all cases. Charts from Our World in Data show the long, steady decline, which is one of the clearest success stories in modern cancer medicine. It shows how a disease once feared by many women can become far less deadly when prevention reaches the population.

so what

It shows that a major cancer can be pushed back through screening and vaccination rather than only through better treatment. The trend offers a template for other cancers with known viral or preventable causes.

fun fact

Nearly all cervical cancers are caused by persistent infection with certain types of human papillomavirus.

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background

Cervical cancer is a type of cancer that develops in the cervix, the lower narrow part of the uterus (womb). It is due to the abnormal growth of cells that can invade or spread to other parts of the body. Early on, typically no symptoms are seen. Later symptoms may include abnormal vaginal bleeding, pelvic pain or pain during sexual intercourse. While bleeding after sex may not be serious, it may also indicate the presence of cervical cancer.

Almost all cases (99%) are linked to genital human papillomavirus infection (HPV); most who have had HPV infections, however, do not develop cervical cancer. The risk is higher in people who smoke, have a weakened immune system, use birth control, start sex at a young age and have many sexual partners. Cervical cancer typically develops from precancerous changes over 10 to 20 years. About 75% of cervical cancers are squamous cell carcinomas, 20–25% are adenocarcinoma. Diagnosis is typically by cervical screening followed by a biopsy. Medical imaging is then done to determine whether or not the cancer has spread beyond the cervix.

From Wikipedia: Cervical cancer (CC BY-SA 4.0) ↗ · text CC BY-SA 4.0

see

CDC, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

SaraPavicevic, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Cancer Research UK, Armenian translation by user:GgGevorg, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Our World in Data · CC BY 4.0

Image: Our World in Data

source: Our World in Data ↗

politics

Trump and Netanyahu reportedly clash over whether to resume military action against Iran

the gist

Israeli reports also say the cabinet directed the military to prepare for a possible new attack on Iran.

so what

The United States and Israel have been closely aligned on Iran's nuclear programme and regional threats, so open disagreement between their leaders over military strategy is unusual and closely watched. Whether to resume strikes is a decision with consequences for shipping, oil markets and the wider Middle East.

fun fact

Benjamin Netanyahu has served as Prime Minister of Israel for more years in total than any other person.

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Data: GDELT Project

Illustrative photo · Israel Belkind and Fanny Abramovitch (original) “The Provis…, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

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supplementary video · Epimetheus on YouTube ↗

world cultures & travelWikivoyageclassic9th–15th century · Siem Reap, Cambodia

Angkor was the largest pre-industrial city on Earth, covering about 3,000 square kilometres

the gist

Angkor, near Siem Reap in northern Cambodia, was the capital of the Khmer Empire, which ruled much of mainland Southeast Asia between roughly the 9th and 15th centuries. At its height the city spread across about 3,000 square kilometres, making it the largest pre-industrial city on Earth by area. Its growth depended on water: huge reservoirs called barays, along with canals and embankments, stored monsoon rain and carried it to rice fields. That system let farmers harvest more than once a year and fed a very large population through the dry season. The temple complex of Angkor Wat, built in the early 12th century, is the best-known monument and still stands at the heart of the park.

how it works

The Khmer kings built enormous rectangular reservoirs that caught monsoon rain during the wet season. Earthen dykes and canals moved that water into rice paddies, so farmers could grow crops across much of the year. The surplus food supported craftsmen, builders and the workforce that raised the temples.

so what

Angkor shows how a society without industrial machinery could build a city on a scale that rivals modern metropolises, using engineering and water management instead. Some historians link its decline to drought, flooding and shifts in its water systems, which makes it a long-running case study in how cities depend on managing water. The site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important archaeological landscapes in Southeast Asia.

fun fact

The outline of Angkor Wat appears on the national flag of Cambodia.