Remember: It’s Cervical Cancer Awareness Month
JANUARY is recognised as Cervical Cancer Awareness Month in the United States, and though locally we observe this in April, the importance of screening for this type of cancer cannot be overemphasised.
Almost all cervical cancers are linked to a common infection in the cervix called human papilloma virus (HPV). Cervical cancer begins in the outer layer of the cervix, and after many years this HPV infection affects the genetic make-up of the cells and causes the cells to undergo cancerous changes.
HPV usually has no symptoms in either sex, and is sometimes cleared up by a person’s immune system, but there are other cases where some infections persist, resulting in the development of cancer.
It is therefore important to have a Pap smear done. A Pap smear involves taking a sample of cells from the opening of the cervix and sending the sample to the lab to identify pre-cancerous cells secondary to the sexually transmitted HPV.
Once identified, pre-cancerous cells can be treated, thus preventing cancer.
A Pap smear should be done annually from the age of 21 until 65. Women should schedule their Pap smears when they are not menstruating and should avoid sexual intercourse for at least 24 hours prior to the procedure.
