Cervical cancer: Importance of testing

BY DR. LINDANI SIBANDA EKUPHILENI CLINIC

an estimah0tais0o0pnrnooevfweodvctaoesrbeesͷoȋ͹nin0e 20ͳͺ), cervica l cancer

ITH

golfotbhaellye,aadnindgthceauleseasdionfgdceauthseinoffecmanaclesr idnetaetrhvefonrtiwonosmiennteinrmswoaf tsienni.sithiseirnegfotrhee, tphuebnlieceodntothaims tpolipfyicsroecmieatyin-bsavsietadlp, arsevweenltlivaes and Hcontrvoalcmcineastiuornesis, srcerceoemnminegnadcetdiv.ities cerevrixviocfatlhceauntceerruis ȋawcoamncbe)rotfhaawt aormisaens, ian dthies caused by the Human apilloma irus ȋH ). H infection is very common, with over ͳ00 tliynpkeesdotfoHcansc,eornsl.y cheertsaoin-ctaylpleeds Ǯhaivgehbreisekn’ H types ȋͳ͸ and ͳͺ) have been shown to scpauresaedctahnrcoeurgshosfetxhueaclecrovnitxa.cHt or siknifne-cttoi-osnkiins contact. ost sexually active men and women are infected at some point in their life.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF

n the early stages, cervical cancer may

CERVICAL CANCER

not produce any signs and symptoms. he precancerous stages are asymptomatic. Signs pintovmadseutshueaslluyrdroevuenldoipnogntcisestuheescaanndcaenrdcseylmls ianrcelbuedgeiǢnanbinogrtmo sapl rveaagdin. Sailgbnlseetodilonogk, voaugtinfoarl binlteeerdcionugrsaef,tbelremedeingopoaruspseo,ttoinr gafintebrestewxeueanl periods, longer or heavier menstrual periods than usual, other abnormal vaginal discharge ȋusually clear coloured and foul smelling), patinisdimurpinogrtsaenxtutoalninotertchoaut rths e.se symptoms are not only specific to cervical cancer but can also occur iiocntahalercnoguynmndebicteoiorlonogs-f. schreekeenyeids toonbcee othSnecsereesdeynemivpnetgolmohaps.ssto be

SCREENING FOR CERVICAL CANCER

linked to treatment and management of positive swmciertenhetoniunintpgpltaercsoetpsi.esSrncrometeaentihanigceal-. sahteion ȋorldH H)eraelcthommrgeandi-s screening for every woman

Wfrom aged ͵0 and regularly afterwards. or women living with H who are sexually active, thshcaerdeyaekntnoiontawgl hstyhseotiuerrlHdecbtoesmdtayotnufoesr. eaabroelmineierg,nawcsoshnodohintaiovanes no longer have a cervix, and thus do not need swtotiolblmeheasnvcerweaheconeehrdavvifxeoahrnacderasvhsioucuablltdoctabanel chseycrrs.etHernoewecdteo.vmery, teshtserteharteatrhereceudrrifefenrtelyntrteycpoems omf escnrdeednibnyg Hthe tyHpeǣsH, isual iAnstepsetcitnigonfowrihthigAhc-reitsikc lAi“cuididȋ-baAse)d, coyntovleongytiȋoLnal)ȋ ap) test and

Hysterectomy ȋremoval of the uterus) is usually performed in the early stage of the coaf nthcerc.eArvcioxnwehbeiroepmsyoȋsrtetmumovoaulrosfbtehgeinin)saindde antrdacherevleixct)oamrey oȋrpetmioonvsatlhoaft hceanupbpeeursveadgifnoar small tumours in order to preserve fertility. f the cancer is advanced, pelvic exenteration which removes the uterus, surrounding lymph tnhoedceasn, acnedr, dpeaprtesnodfiontghoenr oitrsglaoncsastiuornr.ounding

adiation therapy is another common treatment. oth external beam radiation therapy ȋradiation therapy administered from an outside source of radiation) and bfoeremnsusoefdthfoeracpeyrvcicaanl bcaenucseer.d thoegsethtwero. chreamchoytthheerraappy.y ihseucsoumalmlyocnosmidbeineeffdecwtsitohf srakdiniacthioan gtheesr, anpayusinecal,uvdoemfaittiinggu,ei,rdritaartrihooneoaf, the bladder, vaginal irritation and discharge, rmaaneddniasotopimoanue.tsiem, eifstmhenosvtaruriaelscharaengeexsporsedartloy actrhlesoaoictembfoernctehore-f vical cancer torertahtfmtaetreinrsat.drieactuiornring, may also be given before

TREATMENT METHODS CERVICAL CANCER

(Courtesy pic) Cervical cancer is a cancer that arises in the cervix of the uterus (womb) of a woman, and is caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).