Cervical cancer remains a major public health concern in South Africa.The Department of Health’s current rollout of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination program, targeting girls aged 9 to 14 and scheduled to run until March 28, shines a critical spotlight on HPV and cervical cancer. This vaccination program emphasizes empowering young women with knowledge, preventing the spread of HPV, and ensuring early detection of cervical cancer. Cervical cancer tragically claims more lives of adolescents and women aged 15 to 44 than any other cancer in South Africa. While treatable if detected early, prevention is undeniably the most effective strategy.

Bonitas Medical Fund is actively promoting awareness and education around this critical issue. according to Dr. Themba Hadebe, clinical and managed care executive at Bonitas, understanding the causes, screening methods, and preventative measures associated with cervical cancer is paramount. Dr. Hadebe provides insights into cervical cancer, which is caused by persistent infection with HPV, the importance of screening for the virus, and the role of vaccination in prevention.

The urgency of addressing HPV and cervical cancer is underscored by the fact that over 99% of all cervical cancers are attributed to persistent infection of high-risk types of HPV, notably HPV-16 and HPV-18. These viruses infect the cells of the cervix, and in some instances, this infection can persist, leading to abnormal cellular changes that may eventually develop into cancer.

Recognizing the critical role of vaccination, Bonitas Medical Fund has expanded its preventative care benefits to include the HPV vaccine across all plans. Dr.Hadebe stated, To help prevent cervical cancer, we have expanded our preventative care benefits to include the HPV vaccine across all plans. This initiative aligns with the World Health Institution (WHO) recommendations, which advise two doses for females aged 9 to 14 years and three doses for females aged 15 to 26 years, per lifetime.

The Importance of Screening

Screening plays a vital role in mitigating the risk of developing cervical cancer. It aims to identify cervical cell changes and detect early cervical cancers before they cause symptoms. Two primary screening tests are used for detection:

• Pap Smear: Cervical cancer is frequently slow-growing and may not present immediate symptoms. Regular Pap smear tests, involving the scraping of cells from the cervix for microscopic examination, can detect cell changes (pre-cancers) that may progress to cancer if left untreated.
• HPV Test: This test specifically looks for the presence of the HPV virus, notably HPV-16 and HPV-18, which are responsible for approximately 90% of cervical cancers.

Guidelines recommend that women between the ages of 21 and 65 shoudl undergo a pap smear every two years. From the age of 30 onwards, a combined Pap smear and HPV test should be performed every five years.

Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms

While early detection through screening is crucial, being aware of potential signs and symptoms is also critically important. Symptoms of HPV infection can include lesions on the genital area, darker lesions on other parts of the body, painful bumps on the upper limbs, and skin growths on the balls of the feet and heels.

Prevention: Empowering Young Women

Dr. Hadebe emphasizes the importance of open dialog with young women about lifestyle choices that can impact their risk of HPV infection. Talk to yoru daughter about important lifestyle choices she must make, says Dr. Hadebe. These might potentially be uncomfortable conversations to have but they’re vitally critically important to protect her from HPV and subsequent diseases. Key discussion points should include:

• HPV Vaccination: Emphasize that vaccination is the best chance for protection against the virus.
• Delaying Intercourse: Delaying the onset of sexual activity until at least age 18 can considerably reduce the risk of HPV infection.The earlier a person begins having intercourse,the higher their risk.
• Using Protection: Consistent use of protection during physical intimacy is crucial, as HPV is spread through skin-to-skin contact.
• Limiting Partners: Limiting the number of intimate partners reduces the likelihood of HPV exposure.
• Avoiding Smoking: Smoking damages cells throughout the body,increasing the risk of cancer and other diseases. Smoking also increases the risk of dying from cancer.
• Maintaining a Healthy Weight: Maintaining a healthy weight through a nutritious diet and regular exercise strengthens the immune system and reduces the risk of cancer. The greater your body fat percentage, the higher the risk of cancer.

Understanding Cervical Cancer Development

Cervical cancer, like other cancers, is graded according to its severity. It ranges from in situ,where the cancer has not spread to nearby tissue,to stage one,where it remains within the original organ and is small. As the cancer progresses, it can spread to surrounding lymph nodes and, in the most severe form, metastasize to surrounding tissues and other lymph nodes.

As cervical cancer develops, the following symptoms may occur:

• Abnormal bleeding, such as bleeding after sex
• Pelvic pain unrelated to the menstrual cycle
• Heavy or unusual discharge
• Increased urinary frequency
• pain during urination

Early Detection and Treatment are Key

Dr. Hadebe emphasizes the importance of early detection and prompt treatment. Cervical cancer is the most prevalent cancer among women after breast cancer, says Dr. Hadebe.Yet it has a good chance of being cured, if diagnosed at an early stage and treated promptly. Which is why,it’s critically critically important to have regular pap smears to detect any changes in the cervix and to vaccinate young girls to protect them against possible HPV infection.