Cervical Cancer Checklist: Taking Meaningful Action To Prevent Cervical Cancer
Every September, South Africa commemorates Cervical Cancer Awareness Month. Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among South African women. The aim of this awareness month is to encourage screening for early detection of this cancer.
According to the Cancer Association of South Africa, early detection of changing in the cervix means that treatment can be started before cervical cancer has caused any symptoms, increasing the likelihood of the treatment being successful. Regular pap smear tests (in which cells taken from the cervix are looked at under a microscope) can detect the condition while it is still pre-cancerous.
What Is Cancer?
Cancer is a disease in which cells in the body duplicate (or copy themselves) too quickly. As you know, when anything is done too quickly, mistakes can happen. It is the same with cancer. Cancer is always named for the part of the body where it starts, even if it spreads to other body parts later. The good news is that cervical cancer can be successfully treated if it’s detected early.
What Is HPV?
Unlike many other cancers, cervical cancer is most often caused by a virus: the human papillomavirus (HPV). This is a very common virus which is sexually transmitted. HPV is so common that most people get it at some time in their lives. HPV usually causes no symptoms so you can’t tell that you have it. HPV is spread from one person to another during skin-to-skin contact, most often during sexual activity. However, the virus is spread from skin to skin rather than body fluids, so it’s possible for a genital infection to spread through hand-to-genital contact.
When it’s exposed to HPV, the body’s immune system usually stops the virus from doing any damage. In a small percentage of women, however, long-lasting infection with certain types of HPV contributes to the process that causes some cervical cells to become cancer cells. While almost 80% of cervical cancers are caused by HPV, not everyone infected with HPV gets cervical cancer. Other factors, like your environment or your lifestyle choices can also play a role in whether you get cervical cancer, or not.
Other Risk Factors
While cervical cancer is mainly caused by HPV, a common virus spread through skin to skin contact, body fluids and sexual intercourse, there are other risk factors. These include:
- Early sexual activity
- Unsafe sex
- Multiple sexual partners
- Having another sexually transmitted infection (STI) like chlamydia, gonorrhoea, or syphilis
- Women with HIV infection also have a higher risk of developing cervical cancer
- A weakened immune system
- Smoking is associated with squamous cell cervical cancer
- Long-term use of oral contraceptives (over five years)
In addition, if you were born in the 1950s, you may have been exposed to a drug called diethylstilbestrol (DES). This was a miscarriage prevention drug and if your mother took it you may have an increased risk of a certain type of cervical cancer called clear cell adenocarcinoma.
Symptoms
Cervical cancer in its early stages often has no symptoms.
Later symptoms include:
- Abnormal bleeding between periods
- Heavier and longer menstrual period
- A vaginal discharge with a foul odour
- Vaginal bleeding or pelvic pain during intercourse
- Increased urinary frequency
Treatment
The most common treatment for cervical cancer is chemotherapy, where drugs that destroy cancer cells are injected into the body.
Radiation, in which high energy rays are used to destroy the cancer cells, is also an option.
Surgery is generally the last option and the type of surgery depends on how far the cancer has spread.
Prevention
It is far easier to prevent cervical cancer than to treat it. Any woman or girl who is sexually active is at risk for HPV infection. The earlier females start to have sex, the higher the risks. Also, remember that your partner may also increase your risks of getting HPV if he has had many sexual partners himself or is not circumcised.
To reduce your risk of cervical cancer:
- Ask your doctor about the HPV vaccine
- Have routine Pap smear tests
- Practice safe sex
In conclusion, far too many women die of cervical cancer, an illness that is largely preventable. Take action to protect yourself and your daughters.
If you would like more information on how you can protect yourself or others, or if you need support, please contact us on 0861 GOLIFE (465433) or SMS 43821.