Prevention is better than cure. And early detection is a very close second. This is why cancer screening is such a vital part of your healthcare routine, says Dr. Rajee Wijesooriya, Senior Medical Officer at the Radiotherapy Treatment Unit of Ceylinco Healthcare Centre.
“In simple terms- the earlier, the easier. The sooner you detect the cancerous cell, the easier it is to treat it,” he says. This is especially true with regard to cervical cancer, which claimed the lives of 275,128 women across the world of which 241, 969 were from developing countries according to the World Health Organization 2010 figures.
Cervical cancer cells are found on the surface of the cervix. Most cervical cancers are caused by the infection of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), often transmitted through sexual intercourse. However, a vaccine that can prevent against the HPV virus is also available, and it can greatly reduce your risk of getting cervical cancer.
Risk factors for cervical cancer can include;
- Infection with Human Papilloma Virus
(HPV)
- Poor socio-economic status
- Weakened immune system
- Poor personal hygiene
- Family history of cervical
cancer
- Smoking
Several risk factors increase your chance of developing cervical cancer. Sri Lankan women who are diagnosed with cervical cancer are often found to be from lower socio-economic classes, says Dr. Wijesooriya. The reason for this, while not confirmed, could be due to a lack of awareness about preventive measures and the possibility of early detection.
Early cervical cancer often has no symptoms, but telling signs include;
- Abnormal vaginal bleeding between periods, after intercourse, or after menopause
- Continuous vaginal discharge, which may be pale, watery, pink, brown, bloody, or foul-smelling
- Periods becoming heavier and lasting longer than usual
The cancer may spread to the bladder, intestines, lungs, and liver. Patients with cervical cancer do not usually have problems until the cancer is advanced and has spread. Symptoms of advanced cervical cancer may include: back pain, bone pain or fractures, fatigue, leaking of urine or faeces from the vagina, leg pain, loss of appetite, pelvic pain, single swollen leg, weight loss.
Currently, cervical cancer is the biggest problem faced by women of developing countries. This is largely due to the hesitancy and lack of awareness about the ‘pap test’, identified as the best method to detect early changes of cells in the cervix. Pap smears are recommended for women as soon as they start becoming sexually active or after 35 years of age for non-sexually active women.
Women who have been diagnosed with cervical cancer have three basic treatment options. One is surgery, which will remove the uterus and the cervix, depending on the stage of cancer. A second option is radiation-this can be given either internally or externally. When external radiation is used a machine aims the high-energy x-rays at the cancer from outside the body. Internal radiation uses needles, tubes or other devices to deliver radiation to the centre of the cervix. This is known as Brachytherapy.
In the treatment of cervical cancer, Brachytherapy can be used with other forms of treatment. A piece of radioactive material called a source is put close to the cancer or, if you’ve had surgery, the area where it was before being removed. Brachytherapy stands out from other forms of treatment for cancer as it is an internal form of treatment that delivers the radiation directly to the area of the cancer. This form of treatment is available in Sri Lanka, says Dr. Wijesooriya.
As women it’s natural to feel a certain hesitancy about the procedures involved in cancer screening, especially those for cervical cancer. A conversation with your gynaecologist can help put you at ease, says Dr. Wijesooriya. Cervical cancer is recognized in medical circles as one of the few forms of cancer that can easily be cured with early detection. So take a precautionary step and get yourself screened. It could save your life. |
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