24/10/2025
Let’s talk CERVICAL CANCER
- Cervical cancer…. which is the cancer occurring on the cervix or simply mouth of the womb is getting common
- In SA, it’s impact is causing serious family disruption and leaving young kids orphaned at serious young age
- What causes cervical cancer or risk factors?
First and foremost is due to a s*xual transmitted virus called HUMAN PAPILLOMA VIRUS ( HPV)- 99% of this cancer is due to s*x
And everyone can get it during their s*xual lifetime….
But you are at risk if you 👇
- you are HIV positive with uncontrolled disease
- immunosuppressed eg uncontrolled diabetes, cancer on chemotherapy, and other immune suppressing medical conditions eg SLE etc
- Smoker
How to prevent CERVICAL CANCER?
1. PRIMARY PREVENTION
- Vaccine to 9-12 years kids: there are vaccines…. Cervirax, Gardasil, …. With USA advocating for Gardasil -9 …. Which covers for most strains of HPV and Ge***al warts
Primary prevention targets women who have not engaged in s*xual debut
Smoke cessation etc
2. SECONDARY PREVENTION
This target all women who are having s*x…. If u a having s*x or had s*x in your life…. U need to be screened by tests below
- Papsmear or HPV Testing
The most commonest HPV for cervical cancer is type 16 and 18
Please get papsmear regularly to avoid this preventable cancer ladies
3. TERTIARY PREVENTION
- Papsmear done: now u have cells putting u at risk of cancer and or very very stage cancer… and that’s can be treated
- don’t get here… it’s not funny … try and be at number 2
UNFORTUNATELY END STAGE
- very common in our black society
- we have more 20-45 women dying of this condition than ever before….in our South African black communities…. and most of Gynae wards full of this age group….and 95% HIV positive
- regulations: all HIV positive women or high risk eg Diabetes/ cancer / or all immunocompromised women should have PAPSMEAR EVERY YEAR… due to aggression and quick cancerous activity of HPV on this group
IN SA we are now seeing 25-30 years coming to our facilities due to this preventable disease
Get regularly tested and avoid trauma or agony
