TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – World Cancer Day is celebrated on February 4. Especially for cervical cancer, until now the cancer cases experienced by many women is still a dreaded disease and takes many lives. In fact, this cancer is one of the cancers that can be prevented by doing HPV vaccination and IVA Test / Pap smear. According to 2020 GLOBOCAN data, Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is the cause cancer cervix has taken 21,003 lives, and there are 36,633 new cases against women. This means that 50 women in Indonesia die every day, and this makes cervical cancer the second largest cancer in Indonesia. Moreover, of all new cervical cancer cases found in Indonesia, it is known that more than 80 percent are already at an advanced stage. In this condition, treatment becomes more difficult, more expensive and the success rate also decreases.
Chairman of the Indonesian Oncology and Gynecology Association (HOGI), Andrijono said the conditions above were very worrying. She and her team continue to educate the public about cervical cancer, its symptoms and prevention in order to increase public awareness, especially women, of the dangers of cervical cancer, and the importance of HPV vaccination and screening / early detection through IVA test / pap smear. “Moreover, apart from causing cervical cancer in women, the HPV virus can also cause several skin and genital diseases in men, “said Andrijono.
He reminded that vaccination is considered a primary prevention because it has been shown to reduce the incidence of cervical cancer. Through the HPV vaccination program, Australia has succeeded in reducing the incidence of cancer by up to 40 percent. “In fact, Australia has declared 2030 free of cervical cancer because they started a national HPV vaccination program since 2007,” said Andrijono, during the Webinar ‘Protect Yourself and Your Beloved From Cervical Cancer’ by the Indonesian Coalition to Prevent Cervical Cancer (KICKS), in collaboration with Cancer Information & Support Center (CISC), and Dharmais Cancer Hospital (RSKD).
Read: Early detection of cervical cancer in Indonesian women is still minimal
It is very important to prevent cervical cancer immediately, according to the recommendation of the world health body, which states that the primary preventive measure to prevent cervical cancer is to vaccinate the HPV which causes the body to form antibodies against the HPV virus, so that the body has immunity against the HPV virus which is high risk of causing cervical cancer. Therefore, HPV vaccination important to do as early as possible in order to reduce the risk of contracting the HPV virus. If we don’t act, cervical cancer deaths will increase by almost 50 percent by 2030.
President Director of the Dharmais R. Soeko Werdi Cancer Hospital Nindito Daroekoesoemo said most patients do not know that in the end they have cervical cancer. Therefore, cervical cancer is a cancer that is very difficult to detect at an early stage, because there are no visible symptoms and any complaints from the patient. “For that, we have the same vision as KICKS and CISC to always remind women to do early detection through IVA tests or Pap smears and HPV vaccination as a way to prevent cervical cancer,” said Soeko.
He said as a National Cancer Center, Dharmais Cancer Hospital continues to develop itself to provide quality services to the community, including cervical cancer services. One of them is the HPV DNA testing service, by collecting cells from the cervix to be tested and looking for the presence of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). “In the examination process, women can also undergo a thorough examination using a special magnifying tool, namely colposcopy, to check for abnormal cells. When using colposcopy, our doctors will take cells to be tested in the laboratory,” he said.
The recommendations for early detection and vaccination of HPV are also in line with the World Health Organization which recently announced a global strategy to accelerate cervical cancer cessation. The strategy follows calls for action in 2018 to end preventable cancers. By 2030, the strategy aims to achieve 90 percent coverage for HPV vaccination, 70 percent screening coverage and 90 percent access to related care in all countries.
Director General of Disease Prevention and Control, Ministry of Health Maxi Rein Rondonuwu said the education in the webinar held by KICKS, CISC and RSKD is in line with the government’s vision of realizing a cervical cancer free Indonesia by 2030. In the prevention of cancer, the Ministry of Health pays attention to 4 pillars, namely health promotion. , early detection. “Special protection such as vaccinations and medication. Therefore, we strongly support this educational activity and urge Indonesian women to carry out early detection of cervical cancer and HPV vaccination for the protection of themselves and their loved ones,”
Aryanthi Baramuli Putri, Chairperson and Founder of the Cancer Information and Support Center (CISC), said that cervical cancer is mostly suffered by people of productive age, namely 35-55 years. In fact, we know that the fight against cancer is not an easy thing. Moreover, 80 percent of cervical cancer patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage. For this reason, continuous education is needed for the wider community that early detection of cervical cancer, and the HPV vaccine is a health investment as a major protection measure from various diseases in the future caused by the HPV virus. “This is where it is important for all stakeholders to work together on an ongoing basis in promotive, preventive, diagnostic, curative, rehabilitative and palliative efforts for better cancer prevention,” said Aryanthi.
On the same occasion, KICKS also announced the declaration of actress and health observer Zaskia Adya Mecca as the #CegahKankerServiks Ambassador. Zaskia feels proud to be a part of KICKS. He believes that cervical cancer should not stop the dreams of women in Indonesia to live and work. “Therefore, as a woman, I am moved to convey this information to a wide audience so that they can immediately take concrete action in preventing cervical cancer preventing Indonesian women from achieving their dreams. Together with KICKS, I invite Indonesian women to start protecting themselves and their loved ones by vaccination. HPV and early detection to fight cervical cancer, “said Zaskia.
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