Dedicated to amplifying awareness about cervical cancer, January highlights the urgent necessity of minimizing the impact of the fourth most prominent cancer in women across the globe.
In Nigeria, for example, cervical cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths among women aged between 15 and 44 years, according to the United Nations (UN). In 2020, the year for which the latest data is available, at least 12,000 new cases of cervical cancer were recorded, with at least 8,000 deaths.
In the report, Muhammed Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, emphasized the importance of vaccination as an antidote to the disease.
In his words: “The loss of about 8000 Nigerian women yearly from a disease that is preventable is completely unacceptable. HPV mostly causes cervical cancer, and parents can avoid physical and financial pain by protecting their children with a single dose of the vaccine.”
Sexual transmission
In 2018, approximately 28 Nigerian women died from cervical cancer every day, resulting in thousands of deaths.
Cervical cancer, which forms in a woman’s cervix, is caused by the human papillomavirus, a common virus that spreads through sexual contact. Typically, it can take years before an infected cervix develops into cancer. Hence, early screening can prevent women from developing cervical cancer.
Usha Anenga, a specialist in gynecology, described vaginal bleeding after sexual intercourse as the most prominent symptom of the cancer
“After meeting with your partner, you start noticing bleeding; even when it is not your menstrual period, you still see bleeding,” he explained.
Watery, bloody vaginal discharge with a foul smell and pain during sex are other symptoms that are associated with cervical cancer. Women diagnosed with the cancer can feel their sex lives take a hit as they become focused on combating the terminal disease, Anenga said.
Pap Smear screening
A pap smear (also called a Pap test) is defined as a screening test for cervical cancer to check for HPV in the cervix or for cells that are likely to become cancerous.
Anenga identified the pap smear as one of the most common tests for screening for cervical cancer
“You go to the hospital; they take some cells from your cervix, and then they test them for signs of cancer. It takes about 10 to 15 years from these symptoms before the cancer develops. But regular Pap smears can help detect changes very early,” he told Prime Progress.
Anenga further advised that every female should always get the Pap test and other tests within 3 years to detect the disease and mitigate the risk of abnormal cells in the cervix morphing into cancer.
January is designated for raising awareness about cervical cancer, the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide. In Nigeria, where cervical cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women aged 15 to 44, there were 12,000 new cases and 8,000 deaths in 2020. The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammed Ali Pate, highlighted vaccination as a key prevention strategy, advocating for the HPV vaccine to prevent the disease.
Cervical cancer is primarily caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) and transmitted sexually. Common symptoms include vaginal bleeding after intercourse, bloody vaginal discharge, and pain during sex. Early screening and regular Pap smears are crucial for early detection, as it can take years for an infected cervix to develop into cancer. Gynecologist Usha Anenga advises women to get regular Pap tests to detect and mitigate the risk of cervical cancer.
