GREATER public awareness of cervical cancer is urgently needed, according to a gynecological specialist.
Cervical cancer is the second most common form of cancer among women in developing countries like Myanmar.
The main reason for the prevalence of the disease is the lack of general health knowledge and, more importantly, lack of availability of the Pap smear test that can detect the cancer at an early stage, said Dr May Thu Myo Nyunt, an obstetrician and gynecological specialist at Bahosi Fertility Center. Early detection is crucial in cervical cancer cases.
But she said the introduction of a new cervical cancer vaccine could also help to reduce the risk of women developing cervical cancer.
“There is a vaccine against cervical cancer now available in Myanmar. If pubescent girls – and even girls from aged nine or 10 – are vaccinated in advance, before having sexual intercourse, the vaccine is 70 percent effective in protecting the girls from getting cervical cancer,” Dr May Thu Myo Nyunt said.
The vaccine is prohibitively expensive in Myanmar though; three injections are required, each costing about K100,000.
Cervical cancer is most commonly found in women over the age of 30, particularly in the 40-49 age group. While some groups of women are more at risk than others, all should be aware of the detection process for the disease, Dr May Thu Myo Nyunt said.
She said all women needed to be aware of the secondary method of prevention – the Pap smear test, which detects cervical cancer and has been used by medical practitioners to screen for the disease for more than 40 years.
A woman should have screening test when she becomes sexually active or reaches the age of 20. Screening tests are recommended once two to three years, she said, adding that those who have been vaccinated still need regular Pap smear tests.
“The rate of cervical cancer in developed countries has been in decline due to regular screening tests. It is not difficult to do, not costly and is effective in detecting the cancer at an early-stage and in precancerous conditions,” she said.
“An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure; previously there was not a vaccine against cancer before so, now we have a vaccine, we should make sure it is available. But women should also be aware of the risk factors that have an effect on a woman’s chances of developing cervical cancer,” she said.
Cervical cancer is closely linked to certain types of human papilloma virus (HPV); HPV types 16 and 18 are detected in 70pc of cervical cancer and are passed on through sexual contact.
“Women who have intercourse at an early age, who have had multiple sexual partners, whose male partners have several sexual partners and those who smoke are most at risk,” she said.
She said women who experience symptoms including abnormal bleeding – during or after intercourse or intramenstrual – and vaginal discharge may be at risk of cancer. Aches and pains may indicate cervical cancer at a more developed stage, though this is certainly not always the case.
“In the early stages of cervical cancer, may cause no symptoms at all. The most common forms of cervical cancer begin with changes in cells; the Pap smear test can detect the early changes of cells and treatment can be started immediately to prevent the cancer from developing,” she said.
Doctors can also detect cases of cervical cancer by taking a tissue biopsy or making a visual inspection with acetic acid using a colposcopy.
“Cervical cancer can be more easily cured or treated if detected at an early stage, through surgery or chemotherapy. There is a poor survival rate if the cancer is detected at a later stage, this is why prevention and detection are so important,” she said.
Each year, about one billion are detected in precancerous stage and five hundred million reach at high-risk. About 270,000 women are dying of the cervical cancer every year.
“Nowadays women have a very good chance of prevention of this deadly disease because screening test and vaccines are available,” she said. “But if we fail to use these preventative measures, we will miss a big chance to protect women against cervical cancer.”
