Women encouraged to go for breast and cervical screenings

Prevention is critical when it comes to breast and cervical cancer, the two most common cancers affecting women in South Africa.

The old adage that prevention is better than cure holds true and self-breast examinations and annual pap-smear check-ups are crucial to early diagnosis.

With Cervical Cancer Awareness Month in September and Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, Dis-Chem has emphasised the importance of self-breast examinations and cervical cancer screenings.

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Cervical cancer screenings detect cell changes in the cervix and early cervical cancer before they cause symptoms.

Dis-Chem’s clinic executive Lizeth Kruger said breast cancer affects approximately 27 in 100 000 women in South Africa, and accounts for 16% of cancer deaths amongst women.

“Cervical and breast cancer can be treated successfully if detected early enough, so it is vital for women to be aware of the symptoms, and to go for regular screenings,” she said.

Kruger said cervical cancer is closely linked to the human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, which is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections, mostly found in 15 – 59-year-old men and women.

While the virus is not life-threatening and there are not always visible symptoms, it can develop into other health issues, most commonly genital warts in men, and can lead to penile and anal cancer.

“Over 40 types of HPV can infect the genital area as well as the mouth and throat and are spread during sexual contact. It is recommended that both men and women get vaccinated as soon as they become sexually active,” Kruger said.

“We have noticed dwindling demand for the HPV vaccine amongst males within South Africa and we realised that this is probably due to little discussion about the virus, and how it affects both men and women,” she says.

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