Women wearing pink for breast cancer with arms around in parkland More than 85% of women with cervical cancer are young and undereducated and live in the world’s poorest countries. Picture: Supplied.
Cervical cancer is one of the top three cancers affecting women in South Africa according to the Cancer Association of South Africa (Cansa).
The second cancer affecting women in the country is breast cancer.
National manager of Cansa’s health programmes, Lorraine Govender, said while great strides have been made in advancing gender equality, economic opportunities, and empowerment of women, many still overlook their health.
“Often, it’s a matter of having little or no time to go for medical check-ups and ignoring niggling symptoms. And there are also those women who just don’t know about cancer and how to recognise its symptoms,” she said.
She said knowledge gaps surrounding women’s health and cancer can prevent women from seeking appropriate healthcare services or discussing their symptoms openly. According to Govender, this delays the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, leading to worse outcomes.
She said the 2022 South African National Cancer Registry statistics state that 7 499 new cervical cancer cases were diagnosed histologically (from cells) and that most women being diagnosed are aged between 40-49.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the annual number of new cases of cervical cancer across the globe has been projected to increase from 570 000 to 700 000 between 2018 and 2030; and the annual number of deaths because of cervical cancer is projected to increase from 311 000 to 400 000.
More than 85% of those affected are young undereducated women who live in the world’s poorest countries.
Govender said a similar trend can be expected in South Africa unless we increase the uptake of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.
She added that Cansa’s Women’s Health awareness campaign is aligned to South African initiatives, as well as to the WHO’s 2020 global strategy for the elimination of cervical cancer.
The WHO’s strategy aims to see 90% of girls fully vaccinated against HPV by the age of 15; 70% of women screened with a high performance (screening through pap smears or HPV DNA testing) by age 35 and again at 45; and 90% of women identified with cervical disease receiving treatment.
Cansa ambassador and Mrs South Africa 2023 finalist, Roulene Bonthuys, is a survivor of cervical cancer. Bonthuys said so many women are not aware of this cancer until it is too late.
“Please don’t wait for next month or next year to visit your gynaecologist, find out as much as you can about cervical cancer and how to prevent it,” she said.
Symptoms may include abnormal vaginal bleeding between periods or after menopause, menstrual periods becoming heavier and lasting longer than usual, vaginal bleeding or pain during or after sexual intercourse, and abnormal vaginal discharge.
However, cervical cancer does not always present with easily detected symptoms, that’s why regular screening is important.
Ways in which to reduce the risk of cervical cancer:
Cansa offers cancer screening at some of its Cansa Care Centres to mark Women’s Health month.
Comprehensive information about cervical cancer and all other types of cancers affecting women is available on: https://cansa.org.za/womens-health/
The Mercury