Cervical Cancer in Nigeria

If there is any disease mostly dreaded by Nigerian women, it is Cervical Cancer as available statistics show that more than 100,000 women die every year in Nigeria from the disease because the vast majority of the cervical cancer deaths in the country are preventable. It was revealed that the disease has a long gestation period of nothing less than 20 years and normally starts with a chronic infection of the Human Papilloma Virus, type 16 or 18, which are the carcinogenic ones.

Experts define cancer of the cervix as cancer of the entrance to the uterus (womb); there are two main types of cervical cancer which are: squamous cell cervical cancer and adenocarcinoma of the cervix.

Some factors that causes Cervical cancer includes: smoking, giving birth at a young age, weakened immune system, having had at least three children in separate pregnancies, long-term use of some common contraceptive pills, Chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and experiencing high levels of stress over a sustained period. Moreover, cervical cancer-causing HPV types can be transmitted through sexual contact with an infected person. However, women who have had many sexual partners are at higher risk of infection with HPV, which raises their risk of developing cervical cancer, even as a link between becoming sexually active at a young age is also a factor of cervical cancer. In addition, studies reveal that women in deprived areas are more likely to have higher rates of cervical cancer.

The most common symptoms of cervical cancer are, bleeding between periods, bleeding after sexual intercourse, bleeding in post-menopausal women, discomfort during sexual intercourse, smelly vaginal discharge and pelvic pain.

Very few Nigerian women have ever had cervical cancer screening in their lifetime (including me) and less than 1 percent are aware of the existence of this silent killer.

Due to this, it is pertinent that women should regularly go for medical screening to ensure early detection, especially when they attain the age of 21 years. Cervical cancer is ranked the second most frequent cancer among women in Nigeria, and the second most frequent cancer among women between 15 and 45 years of age.

To help create awareness Access Bank is carrying out a Cervical Cancer Awareness Marathon themed “SMEARATHON” which will take place in Lagos, on September 16, 2017. At this event, women will have a chance to be screened, and those who are found to have the pre-cancer cells will begin treatment. Teenage girls and women who do not have the pre-cancer cells will also have the opportunity to get the vaccine. So i am calling on women of reproductive age to observe regular cervical cancer screening because any woman who is sexually active is at risk!!!’

[Image Source:] (www.medicinenet.com)