Cervical cancer – African women’s leading killer

It is true that the knowledge of this condition is not as prevalent as doctors in this country would like it is to be. Worse, according to a recent report by the World Health Organization (HPV), an estimated 771 deaths occur in Kenya annually due to cervical cancer, between the ages of 15-44 years and 1040 estimated cases of cervical cancer occur annually between the same ages. With prevalence of HIV/ AIDS infections, the cervical cancer deaths are rocketing.

Cervical cancer causes the highest rate of deaths in Africa compared to other continents. Noted also is the fact that it threatens conception and safe pregnancy. Therefore it is essential to make loud its awareness – in order to help curtail its sad effects.

Many more women learn that they have the disease when it is already in its advanced stages and thus fatal. Still, more are unaware of preventive measures that one can take to ensure that they live a healthy, cancer free life. It is time for you to be informed. This page is dedicated to giving you information that is paramount to your health.

Cancer of the cervix is the second most common cancer among women worldwide. It forms in tissues of the cervix. The cervix is the narrow and lowest part of the uterus which forms an opening between the uterus and the vagina. It is a slow growing cancer that usually has no symptoms in its early stages. However, as the disease advances, one may experience vaginal bleeding, unusual vaginal discharge, pelvic pain and pain during sexual intercourse. More importantly, an early prediction of the disease can be done by taking a Pap test commonly known as a Pap smear.

Cervical cancer is almost always caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV) infection, which is common and is spread through sexual contact. The worrying issue is that people don’t know that they have HPV because there are no symptoms—all the more reason to go for regular tests! In some cases. HPV can go away on its own but in others, it can cause cell changes. A Pap smear can find these changes before they develop into cancer thus making the condition curable.

Doctor Vargas, who works at the National Cancer Institute in the U.S notes that. “Many women do not know about the Pap test. They find out they have cervical cancer when it is at an advanced stage. The cancer could have been prevented with regular Pap tests.”

About the Pap smear
Here, the doctor will collect a few cells from the cervix to send to the medical laboratory for testing. Pap smears are now more common in both public and private hospitals amid qualified doctors with adequate knowledge on the development of the disease. However, you should note that the Pap smear does not detect many sexually transmitted diseases and you should have separate tests for these.

According to research, it is recommended to have your first Pap smear after a minimum of 3 years after you have sex or as soon as your 21 years of age! You should also have a test yearly, depending on the results of your first test. If you are 30 years or older, an HPV test may be done along with the Pap test. Moreover, speak with your doctor or nurse on whether you should have one if you are 65 years or older.

During the test, the doctor will use an instrument called the Speculum to open the vagina and thus see the cervix. Thereafter, they will collect some cells from the cervix using a swab or a small brush. Because of this, you may experience some discomfort. The test results should be out in a week or two. A negative or normal outcome means you are healthy. On the other hand, a positive test, may not necessarily mean that you have cancer, but that the doctor needs to do more tests. Ensure that you do all the follow ups and get the right results in order to be sure.

Cervical cancer treatment
Surgery:
The following surgical procedures may be used:

Total hysterectomy: This is surgery that it is done to remove the uterus including the cervix. This ensures that the cancer does not spread to the body. If the uterus is taken out through t he vagina it is called a vaginal hysterectomy and if it is taken out through the abdomen it is called an abdominal hysterectomy.

Radical hysterectomy: This is surgery that is done to remove the uterus, cervix, part of the vagina and a wide area of ligaments and tissues around these organs.

Bilateral Salpingo-cophorectomy: This is surgery that is done to remove both ovaries and both Fallopian tubes.

Laser Surgery –This procedure uses a laser beam as a knife to make bloodless cuts in tissues to remove a tumor in the uterus.

Radiation Therapy– This procedure uses high energy x-rays or other types of radiation to kill cancer or to keep them from growing. External or internal radiation may be used for treatment depending on the stages of cancer being treated.

Chemotherapy.  This treatment uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cell or by preventing them from dividing. This procedure is used when the cancer is in its advanced stages.

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