This cancer can be prevented

EACH year almost 8 000 South African women are diagnosed with cervical cancer, the most common cancer among women aged 14 to 44 and the leading cause of deaths from cancer among women in general.

The cervix is the lowest part of the uterus where it opens into the vagina, forming the initial mouth of the birth canal. Because of its position, it is extremely vulnerable to infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV), a virus that can be sexually transmitted and that is responsible for a variety of cancers in men and women, and also for genital warts.

Almost all people will be exposed to the virus at some time. Although only a minority will go on to develop cancer, there is no way of telling who that might be.

There are over 190 different strains of HPV, of which four strains are most important; types 16 and 18 are responsible for about 70 percent of cervical cancers and types 6 and 11 cause about 90 percent of genital warts.

There are no symptoms of infection with HPV types 16 and 18 and the interval between acquiring the virus and progression to a cancer usually takes 10 years or longer. Cervical cancer is most commonly diagnosed in women between the ages of 30 and 60 years.

Symptoms only develop when the cancer becomes more advanced and invades nearby tissue. When this happens there may be abnormal bleeding or discharge from the vagina and pain during intercourse. Nevertheless, these are symptoms that are fairly nonspecific and they can occur due to other causes, like infection. So it is important for women who do experience anything out of the ordinary to see their doctor as soon as they can and to get screened regularly for cervical cancer.

The virus can be passed on by skin-to-skin contact and sex does not need to occur. Also, HPV can spread from one part of the body to another.

Factors that seem to increase the risk of developing cervical cancer include smoking, other illnesses or medicines that lower immunity, other sexually transmitted infections, a diet low in fruit and vegetables, being overweight, having a first pregnancy before the age of 17 and having a family history of cervical cancer.

It is important to prevent cancer from occurring by going for regular pap smears and treating cells that are not yet cancerous, but if left will become a cancer. The best way to find a cervical cancer early on, is to have a regular pap smear. If the cancer is detected early, the chances of successfully treating it are a lot better.

Vaccination against HPV is 90-100 percent effective in causing immunity against the most important viral strains that cause disease.

In this way it helps to prevent precancerous changes in the cells of the cervix. In March 2014, the South African Department of Health introduced a national plan to vaccinate girls in grade 4 (nine years and older) in public schools.

“Vaccination programmes have been remarkably successful around the world,” says Professor Hennie Botha, Head of Gynaecological Oncology at the University of Stellenbosch. “In order to obtain good protection of the population as a whole, we need to vaccinate at least 70 percent of schoolgirls,” explains Prof Botha. “So it is essential that parents understand how important it is to allow their daughters to be vaccinated.

Myths that the vaccine is unsafe, causes infertility or leads to increased promiscuity have no basis and are simply not true, – Prof Hennie Botha

In contrast, not vaccinating your child leaves them at risk of devastating and potentially fatal disease in later life. At the moment only girls are receiving the vaccine, but there are plans to extend the vaccine also to boys in the future. Although the risk of cancer from HPV is lower in boys, young men can transmit the virus to their partners, so vaccinating them not only protects their own health, but adds to protecting the health of young women and those who are not vaccinated as well.”

Dr Trudy Smith, a Johannesburg-based gynaecologist agrees. “It would be ideal to vaccinate both boys and girls, but to have a significant impact on cancer, the most important and cost-effective strategy for the government is to start with girls,” she says.

Currently, the government does not provide free vaccination to children who are at private schools.

“Parents of a girl who is not at a government-run school need to be encouraged to take responsibility for their child’s health, because it is up to them whether the child gets an HPV vaccine or not,” says Dr Smith. “I strongly recommend that they speak to their local private vaccination clinic or GP about vaccinating.

“HPV is so common that almost everyone will be exposed at some point and most never know they are infected. So even if your daughter waits until marriage to have sex, or only has one partner in the future, she could still be at risk if her partner has been exposed to HPV. ”

More information can be found at www.hpv.co.za .

(Information from bespokecomms.co.za)

HAVE YOUR SAY

Like our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram

For news straight to your phone, add us on BBM 58F3D7A7 or WhatsApp 082 421 6033