CERVICAL CANCER: Just one early screening can avert lifetime suffering

By Oyindamola Idris

Cervical cancer is one of the commonest genital diseases in women that has claimed the lives of many regardless of their title or position.

Although this condition is both preventable and curable (depending on early detection), record of survivors is still low.

Also a predominant disease in most developing countries, cancer of the cervix (neck of the womb) is recorded as killer of some 25% of women in developing countries annually.

In Nigeria, like most developing countries, cervix cancer is largely discovered when it has mostly eaten up the body system.

Medics say the condition is mostly contacted when the patient comes into contact with Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), virus which is mostly contacted through sexual intercourse.

HPV infection are so common that nearly all men and women will get at least one type of HPV at some point in their lives. Most people never know that they have been infected and may pass HPV on to a sex partner inadvertently.

CERVICAL CANCER IN NIGERIA

At a rendezvous with Dr. Taiwo Aina, a medical practitioner at Kajola hospital, Fadeyi, along Ikorodu Road, Lagos Mainland, The Daily Times learnt firsthand that cancer of the cervix also is cancer of the entrance to the uterus (womb).

“The cervix is the narrow part of the lower uterus, often referred to as the “neck” of the womb and occurs most commonly in women over the age of 30,” Aina said and revealed that there are two main types of cervical cancer: squamous cell cervical cancer and adenocarcinoma of the cervix.

Its risk factors, The Daily Times learnt, include smoking, giving birth at a young age and having a weakened immune system.

“It is classified as the most common form of genital cancer for women in the Northern part of Nigeria and the second after breast cancer in the South.

“Cervical cancer is one of the predominant cancers in Nigeria and it has claimed many lives.

Although cancer of the cervix can be cured when it is in its early stage but here in Nigeria, people only seek medical help when it is in its late stage, and this is still the main reason why the country is still recording high mortality rate on this cancer.”

Aina pointed out that the poor are the one that suffer most when they contact this disease, unlike the rich, they don’t get early diagnosis and when they do, they don’t get absolute care and treatment.

“The rich patients have the money to pursue their treatment within or outside the country and do necessary surgery to cure or preserve their lives if it is in its late stage.

“The poor ones are the most pitiful whenever they contact this disease because they lack resources to give themselves adequate treatment, so they end up dying a lot earlier than the rich.

“So the best move is to prevent the HPV from entering into their system by going for the vaccine. On the long run, this would be a lot cheaper than treating the condition – and they will live a healthier life.”

Dynamics of HPV
In general medical terms, cancer means that one cell has outworn another; but in cervical cancer, it involves a virus known as Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).

This virus has been linked in 80%-90% cause of cervical cancer and, just like any other virus, it is contacted through sexual intercourse and sometimes during child birth.

Risk factor
Early marriage, early sexual intercourse, multiple sexual partners or the partner has multiple partners, smoking, using of contraceptive pills, and having sexually transmitted infections have all been recorded as risk factors.

Anyone involved in these acts stands a high risk of being infected with cancer.

Vaccine for virgins only

The most potent form of prevention is by getting vaccines that has just been introduced, but the vaccine can only be effective in a lady who had never had sexual intercourse.

It is no longer effective if used for someone who is already sexually active because the vaccine is meant to prevent the user from cancer.

The vaccine comes in two packages – the bivalent (i.e. 2 vaccines) and the quadrvalent (i.e. 4 vaccines) which are to be administered within the period of six month.

Symptoms
Known symptoms include abnormal bleeding from the vagina or bleeding after sex, weight loss, incontinence (inability to hold urine and poo), Vesicovaginal fistula, malnutrition, abnormal swelling in some body parts and generally looking ill.

Fistula can also be a complication of cervical cancer caused generally by strong infection.

Cure
After diagnosis proves positive, the patient is advised to see a gynecologist for spot assessment and treatment.

Treatment method begins with ablative therapy, chirotherapy and cold knife therapy, while chemotherapy and radiotherapy are options when the disease is in its late stage.

Role of government

Government should endeavor to invest in the health sector and sponsor relative projects proposed to them, because they have larger role to play in preventing cancer – especially among women.

Unlike in developed countries where the vaccines are commonly available, thereby reducing the rate of cervical cancer, the Federal Government of Nigeria should try to provide and make the cervical cancer vaccines available like other vaccines that are available and common – like immunization vaccines.

Cervical cancer vaccine is costly and can only be purchase by the rich, but if it is made available then the poor will also have access to it.

Awareness
Government can help the situation by sponsoring awareness campaign for the cervical cancer because there are still many people out there who have no knowledge about the cancer, while there are even those who don’t believe it exists. The awareness should equal that of breast cancer that people already know about.

Also, Nigerians should be encouraged to go for screening; women of the reproductive stage should have the Pap Smear test done in order to know their status so that if there is any issue, it can then be picked in the early stage and nipped in the bud.

Dr. Aina said parents have roles to play; like giving appropriate sex education to their children so that the public don’t manipulate and take advantage of their innocence.

“Parents should also take their children for vaccination if they can afford it to save the young ones from cancer throughout their life time.”

Dr Aina advises ladies to get themselves screened and know their cervix status. “Ideally, ladies should away from sex if they are not married, to save them from contacting cancer.

And those living with the cancer should not give up but believe that no matter the stage of the cancer, there’s still something that can be done,” she said.