Cervical Cancer major cause of mortality among women

January is designated as World Cervical Cancer Awareness Month.

It is a global healthcare event aimed to raise awareness of cervical cancer globally.

Cervical cancer develops in the cervix, the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina.

The World Health Organisation (WHO), estimates that there are over 500,000 new cases of cervical cancer (CCU) per year worldwide, and over 300,000 deaths.

A sexually transmitted infection, it is one of the major causes of cancer mortality in women in developing countries.

WHO further estimates that a woman dies every two seconds from cervical cancer and in Ghana, it is the leading cause of gynaecological deaths.

Yet the disease is curable when diagnosed and treated early.

Global estimates in 2020 indicate that approximately 604,127 women worldwide were diagnosed with 341,831 of them dying and 90 per cent of the deaths occurring in less developed regions.

Specifically, in Ghana, 2,799 women were diagnosed in 2020 with 1,699 making 60 per cent dying in the same year.

Health experts explain that 99.7 per cent of cervical cancer cases are caused by persistent infection with Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).

Over 80 per cent of men and women are infected at some time in their sexual life with the HPV.

HPV infection can lead to cancers in men, including penile cancer, cancers of the anus and throat and tonsils in both genders.

Cervical cancer in itself according to health experts is rare without an individual having a high-risk HPV infection.

The two main modes of transmission for the disease are through sexual contact, although genital HPV infections could result from non-penetrative sexual contact and through non-sexual contact such as mother to newborn that is vertical transmission and fomites that is transmission through undergarments, surgical gloves and instruments. 

Risk factors

Persons who experience sexual intercourse at an early age, individuals with multiple sexual partners, having a male partner who has had a previous partner or partners infected with HPV, exposure to nicotine (smoking), immunosuppressed individuals and persons with genital infections such as chlamydia were all at risk.

Some of the most common signs and symptoms of cervical cancer include abnormal vaginal bleeding and bleeding in between periods, bleeding after sexual intercourse, bleeding in post-menopausal women, smelly vaginal discharge, vaginal discharge tinged with blood, pelvic pain, vaginal discomfort with or without sexual intercourse and pain on urination.

Health experts say cervical cancer can be avoided or prevented through the modification of sexual behaviour whereby the transmission of HPV could be prevented as well as through screening, detection/diagnosis and treatment of early “disease” that could progress to cancer. 

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine

The HPV vaccine can be used to prevent cervical cancer from developing and this is available to adolescent girls and boys between the ages of nine to 14 years to get vaccinated before they are exposed to HPV.

It protects against the strains of HPV most responsible for cervical cancer and other HPV-related cancers.

Also, women between 15 to 26 years who had never received the HPV vaccine as well as women aged between 27 to 45 who test negative for HPV are also eligible for vaccination.

The method of screening for cervical cancer is by Cytology (Pap Smear), HPV testing or Co-testing (pap smear and HPV).

Women are advised to get screened every three years for the pap smear and every five years for the HPV once they test negative for HPV.

Writer’s email:rebecca.quaicoe-duho@graphic.com.gh