JEDDAH — Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers among women in the Kingdom, a leading oncologist has told Al-Watan.
Dr. Najla Al-Mari said a study done in 2011 on three general hospitals showed that 55 women die annually from cervical cancer and more than 150 cases were recorded.
Cervical cancer affects the cervix, the lower part of uterus between the vagina and the uterus. It is caused by contracting human papillomavirus (HPV), which is a sexually transmitted virus and has more than 100 different kinds.
Symptoms of cervical cancer are inflammation in the tissues of the cervix and unexpected vaginal bleeding, said Al-Mari.
She said: “Unexpected vaginal bleeding is when the vagina begins to bleed outside of menstruation periods and after sex.
“This is an early symptom of cervical cancer.
“The good thing about this type of cancer is that it takes years to develop.
“The body may contract the virus but it remains dormant for a number of years. It is also very easy to detect because its symptoms appear before the contraction of the actual disease. This allows us to recognize it and remove it in its first stages.”
This type of cancer can be detected in its early stages through vaginal scanning to monitor mutations of the cervical tissues.
Every married woman should go for a vaginal scan biennially after three years into her marriage, said Al-Mari.
The factors that increase the risk of HPV are getting married at young age, marrying someone who has had multiple sexual partners, smoking and any disease that could weaken women’s immunity, said Al-Mari.
There is a new vaccine against HPV 6, 11, 16, and 18, the viruses that cause cervical cancer, and it is very powerful.
However, she must take the vaccine before she contracts the disease in order for it to be fully effective, preferably before she gets married, said Al-Mari.
Al-Mari criticized the Ministry of Health for taking too long to make it compulsory for people to take vaccinations against common diseases and not admitting to the alarming statistics.
She said: “Vaccinations will decrease the rate of contraction by 70 percent.
“The concerned authorities should make it obligatory for everybody.
“In 152 countries, women are obligated to be vaccinated against the disease and in 52 of these countries men and women are both obligated to take the vaccine.”
Saudi Gazette
