In honour of Women’s Month, Edenvale Hospital held a campaign to promote awareness of cervical cancer.
The campaign, which was held at the hospital on August 20, saw police officers and hospital staff receive a free pap smear.
The former head of obstetrics and gynaecology and a part-time specialist at Edenvale, Dr Ron Mitchell, said the campaign was started by the hospital’s current head of obstetrics and gynaecology, Dr Makgobane Ramogale-Zungu.
“On Women’s Day, Dr Ramogale-Zungu gave a health talk to SAPS officers about cervical cancer screening.
“Following the talk, our department thought about what it could do to build on the health talk.”
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After discussing options, the hospital decided to host the screening campaign.
On August 16, a discussion about pap smear was held and the following week female hospital staff members and SAPS officers attended the screening process.
“The campaign was a community project not only held to create awareness, but to strengthen the partnership between the hospital and SAPS.”
Mitchell said although the campaign was only for SAPS officers and hospital staff, community members can have free pap smears done at their nearest clinic.
“If diagnosed early enough, cervical cancer can be treated.”
The National Department of Health said in it’s Cervical Cancer Prevention and Control Policy (June 2017), cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in SA.
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“Although this is a preventable disease, due to limited access to prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of cervical cancer is often fatal.”
According to the Cancer Association of South Africa’s (Cansa) website, Women & Cancer (August 9, 2019), cervical cancer can be caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV).
HPV, a common virus, can cause warts in various parts of the body, depending on the strain.
It can be spread through skin-to-skin contact, body fluids and sexual intercourse.
Other risk factors include having an HIV infection, being overweight, inactive, consuming alcohol, poor dietary habits, smoking and exposure to chemicals.
Mitchell urged women to have pap smears done as young as possible or at least when they turn 30 years old.
“Although the screening process can be uncomfortable for the patient, it is a quick, painless and a non-invasive procedure.”
Mitchell said if a woman is diagnosed with cervical cancer, they should seek medical treatment as soon as possible.
Treatment for cervical cancer can range from surgery if diagnosed early enough, radiotherapy or palliative care.
Patients who are diagnosed with cervical cancer or other types of cancer at Edenvale Hospital are referred to Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital for further treatment.
Mitchell urged men and women to get an HPV vaccination as a precautionary measure against cervical cancer.
He further encouraged men to have their prostates and colons screened for signs of cancer.
