EXPLAINER: What you need to know about cervical cancer

  • According to the World Health Organisation, cervical cancer is the 6th most common cancer in women.
  • It is the leading cause of cancer mortality in Kenya, with an estimated 3,200 deaths in 2020.

Cervical Cancer Awareness is a global event celebrated in January.

The cervical cancer awareness month seeks to raise public awareness about cervical cancer and provides education about prevention, the importance of screening and treatment.

Here is what you need to know about this type of cancer

According to the World Health Organisation, cervical cancer is the 6th most common cancer in women.

It is the leading cause of cancer mortality in Kenya, with an estimated 3,200 deaths in 2020.

According to the Kenya Human Papillomavirus and Related Cancers, Fact Sheet 2023, current estimates indicate that every year 5,236 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 3,211 die from the disease.

Experts say cervical cancer is one of the most successfully treatable forms of cancer, as long as it is detected early and managed effectively.

Oncologist Catherine Nyongesa says cervical cancer is caused by persistent infection with one or more of the high risk of human papillomavirus (HPV).

HPV is a common sexually transmitted viral infection among men and women.

“70 per cent of all cervical cancer cases reported throughout the world are caused by only two types of HPV, that is 16 and 18,” Dr Nyongesa says.

Dr Nyongesa says Understanding the risk factors for cervical cancer is the first step in prevention.

She says there are various risk factors for cancer of the cervix including having multiple sexual partners.

“The risk factors include; starting sexual intercourse at a very young age, having multiple sexual partners, having a sexual partner with multiple sexual partners, co-infection with other sexually transmitted infections, immunosuppression due to HIV infection and tobacco use,” she says.

Clinical oncologist Dulcie Wanda says giving HPV vaccines to boys and girls between 9 and 12 years old can prevent more than 90 per cent of HPV cancers when they get older.

“Cancer of the cervix is one of the cancers we can prevent. Parents need to take the initiative to get their girls vaccinated seriously because the government has an initiative where you don’t need to pay to get vaccinated for girls within that age bracket,” Dr Wanda says.

As it grows, Dr Wanda says cervical cancer might show some signs and symptoms that include virginal bleeding after intercourse, between periods and after menopause.

“Some signs and symptoms that you should look out for could be lower abdominal pain, lower back pain, virginal discharge, having painful sex or bleeding after sex,” Dr Wanda said.

Experts say cancers diagnosed in late stages can also be controlled with appropriate treatment and palliative care.

“With a comprehensive approach to preventing, screening and treating, we can end cervical cancer as a public health problem within a few generations,” the experts say.

Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).

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