Gender: Fighting cervical cancer

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Tsungai Chekerwa-Machokoto
I received an overwhelming response from you readers on my article on infertility.  Although infertility is largely used as a weapon against women in most failed relationships, the article proved to be popular with both sexes.

It was testimony that people are very interested in issues to do with their health and well-being.  This week I have decided to look at cervical cancer – one of the leading killers of women in Zimbabwe today. Contrary to popular belief, cancer is a condition that can actually be handled. It is not a death sentence.

There is a lot of evidence that points to the fact that one can survive cancer.

The number of cancer survivors is increasing in Zimbabwe and some of these people are close to my heart and are my friends. Cervical cancer occurs when abnormal cells on the cervix grow out of control. The cervix is the lower part of the uterus that opens into the vagina.

The disease can often be successfully treated when it is found early. It is usually found at a very early stage through a Pap test.  Cervical cancer is caused by a virus called human papillomavirus, or HPV.

You can get HPV by having sexual contact with someone who has it. There are many types of the HPV virus. Not all types of HPV cause cervical cancer.  These facts just help to emphasise the need to take precaution as has been publicised over and over again: protection.

HPV is passed through sexual intercourse so if people use protection, you can save each other’s lives.  Women, this cancer is peculiar to us so if you fail to insist on condom use, you are failing to protect your life. It is just as good as inviting your own death.

HPV infections usually have no symptoms and disappear on their own.  Some types of the HPV virus may cause genital warts, but these are not the same strains linked to cervical cancer.

It’s important to note that genital warts will not turn into cancer, even if they are not treated. The dangerous type of HPV can stay in the body for years without causing any symptoms. Both men and women are at risk of HPV. HPV is so common that most people who have had sex – both women and men – will get the virus at some point in life.

Because HPV can linger quietly, it’s possible to carry the infection even if it has been years since you had sex.

Condoms can lower your risk of getting HPV, but they do not fully offer protection against the virus.

HPV is also linked to cancers of the vulva, vagina, penis, and can also be spread through anal and oral sex.

Symptoms of cervical cancer are hard to tell at first because when cervical cells first become abnormal, there are rarely any warning signs.

As the cancer progresses, symptoms may include: unusual vaginal discharge, vaginal bleeding between periods, bleeding after menopause and bleeding or pain during sex. HPV causes cervical cancer if one of the high-risk strains of HPV lingers in the body where it can cause abnormal cells to develop in the cervix.  These pre-cancerous changes do not mean that you have cervical cancer. But over time, the abnormal cells may give way to cancer cells.

Once cancer appears, it tends to spread in the cervix and surrounding areas.  The risk of cervical cancer is higher in infected women who smoke, have many children, use birth control pills for a long time and women who are HIV positive or have a weakened immune system.

Early detection for cervical cancer is the Pap Test. The Pap test is one of the greatest success stories in early detection.  A swab of the cervix can reveal abnormal cells, often before cancer appears.

At age 21, women should start having a Pap test every three years. From age 30 to 65, women who get both a Pap test and an HPV test can go up to five years between testing.  But women at higher risk may need testing more often, so it’s best to check with your doctor.  Skipping tests raises your risk for invasive cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer and infertility are not the end of the world. Treatment for cervical cancer often involves removing the uterus and may also involve removing the ovaries, ruling out a future pregnancy.

However, if the cancer is detected very early, you still may be able to have children after surgical treatment.  A procedure called a radical trachelectomy can remove the cervix and part of the vagina while leaving the majority of the uterus intact. Vaccines are now available to ward off the two types of HPV most strongly linked to cervical cancer.

Both Cervarix and Gardasil require three doses over a six-month period. Studies suggest the vaccines are effective at preventing chronic infections with the two types of HPV that cause 70 percent of cervical cancers. Gardasil also protects against two types of HPV that cause genital warts. HPV vaccines are only used to prevent, not treat, HPV infection. They are most effective if administered before an individual becomes sexually active.

The CDC recommends boys and girls get an HPV vaccine series from nine years up to 26 years old.. Recently I met a woman called Talent Yakado who goes around churches, schools, universities and different public platforms in different areas to raise awareness of cervical cancer.

This amazing, beautiful and strong woman survived cervical cancer.  She talks about her ordeal of dealing with cervical cancer and the role her husband, children and family played on her road to recovery.  Talent, who had come to one of my classes at the Women’s University in Africa, left a lasting impression on me.

She didn’t look at cancer as a death sentence. She viewed it as an obstacle that could be challenged.

She shared her story with our class, flashing a beautiful smile throughout her presentation. I believe that God has picked her as one of His chosen instruments to encourage women who are in the same predicament.

Talent told us that early screening is always the best so that women can know their status before the cancer the disease spreads. Screening is offered at New Start Centres, at all local clinics and hospitals and they offer VIAC for free.

VIAC is not a walk-in procedure, it needs prior booking. Talent said there is a need to talk about cervical cancer as much as we can. The reason why Talent managed to save her life is because she went for early screening.

She said that the cervical cancer was in its initial stages. She underwent what is called colposcopy where the doctor removes and burns the cancerous cells.

After that procedure, it took her about six weeks to heal and the cervical cancer hasn’t come back since then.

She had cancer in 2011 and this is 2016! Her survival story is moving. It is a story that gives hope to people who are either afraid of going for testing, or are already suffering from the ailment. The prevalence of HIV is an explanatory factor to most deaths caused by cervical cancer. We should use the same way we employ to stop HIV from spreading in stopping HPV from spreading as well.

The HPV virus is passed sexually but that does not mean that if you have cervical cancer, you also have HIV. In the event that you have both, it is best to start treatment immediately. There are a lot of HIV positive cervical cancer survivors in Zimbabwe.

Knowledge is power and to be forewarned is to be forearmed. There is something that we can do as a people to slow down the deaths or end them completely. The Zimbabwean government has made initiatives to assist women notice the symptoms at an early stage.

Women can go to their local clinics and to the New Start Centres to check for early symptoms of cervical cancer.  All these tests are FREE! You have no excuse to die because help that can save you is FREE. Women, lets choose life today.

About the writer: Tsungai Chekerwa-Machokoto is a mother, wife and Gender Consultant. She is a final year Law student with UNISA. For feedback you may contact her on email:[email protected], blog: tsungimachokoto.tumblr.com

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