Cancer is a disease dreaded by many people, it
comes in different forms to cause not only
untold physiological hardships, but also costs
millions of Naira in management and treatment,
depending on how long it takes to get cured.
In some cases despite the huge amount of
money spent, the patient may never get cured.
Dr. Kehinde Okunade. The World Health
Organisation, WHO, 2014 report, states that
about 2.083 people have died of cancer in
Nigeria; there are 100,000 new cases of cancer
annually, with about 80,000 people succumbing
to the disease. Cervical cancer is one of the
commonest cancers and the second leading
cause of death in Nigerian women. Currently,
reports show that the dreaded disease is
ravaging many women across the country.
Good Health Weekly spoke to Dr. Kehinde
Okunade, a Consultant Oncologist at the Lagos
University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) shortly
after a free screening programme in Lagos
recently. Okunade who is also the Project
Director, Cervical Cancer Programme of
Sebeccly Cancer care and Support centre, said
regular screening has saved many lives from
cervical cancer gave reasons why women who
have persistent HPV infection are at higher risk.
Excerpts: What is cervical cancer? First, let me
start by explaining what the cervix is. The
cervix is the lower part of the uterus (womb) in
the human female reproductive system (neck of
the womb). Cervical cancer is the most
common gynaecological cancer and a leading
cause of cancer deaths among women in
Nigeria.
It starts with disorders abnormal growth of the
cells of the cervix. These abnormal cells then
turn into cancer and the change normally takes
between 10 and 15 years. The main cause of
cervical cancer is persistent infection with
genital Human Papillomavirus, (HPV). Genital
HPV is a virus that is spread by sexual
intercourse.
There are many different types of HPV – up to
150. Certain “high-risk” HPV types can cause
cell changes and cervical cancer. How common
is the virus? Unfortunately, most men and
women who have had sex have been exposed to
HPV.
At least 80 percent of most sexually active
women have been exposed to HPV by age 50.
A person could have been infected with HPV
years ago but only recently had it confirmed in a
test. Out of ignorance, people believe that you
can only get cervical cancer when you are
promiscuous. But that is not true. However,
HPV is not a sign of unfaithfulness. It is not
possible to know when you got HPV or who
gave it to you. You may have had HPV for
many years before it shows up. Anyone who has
ever had sex is at risk of acquiring HPV.
Again, anyone who has had more than one sex
partner and anyone whose sex partners have
had more than one sex partner are at higher risk
for HPV. Also, having HPV does not mean you
will get cancer. Most people get HPV infection,
but very few get cervical cancer. This is
because in most cases, HPV infection goes
away on its own. Sometimes, the HPV infection
does not go away after many years. This type is
called persistent and can lead to cervical
cancer. Those at risk Women who have
persistent HPV infection and who smoke have
multiple sexual partners, women who do not
follow up with testing or treatment after an
abnormal Pap test and women who are HIV
positive are at risk of cervical cancer.
Also, women who had transplanted organs,
women on steroid medications and on
chemotherapy are also at risk of cervical
cancer. Prevention To prevent cervical cancer,
it is important for women to limit the number of
sex partners they have. It is also important for
women to choose a sex partner who has had
none or few prior sex partners. Keeping a
healthy diet and lifestyle is important.
There is also the need for women to protect
themselves during sex. For instance, the use of
condoms consistently and correctly during
sexual activity. It is also important for women
to get regular screening (Pap smear) and follow
up, if necessary.
Mothers should also ensure that their girl child
is vaccinated with HPV vaccine by the age 9 to
26 years. Also HPV DNA test can find “high-
risk” HPV types. You can prevent cervical
cancer with screening. Screening is the search
for diseases, such as cancer, in people without
symptoms. Cervical cancer is the easiest
female cancer to prevent through screening and
it has saved thousands of lives. There are
various types of screening for cervical cancer.
These include; cervical cytology (standard), Pap
smear, Liquid based cytology (LBC), Human
papillomavirus (HPV) testing, visual inspection
with – acetic acid (VIA) and lugols iodine (VILI)
amongst others. In the case of Pap test, a
woman should do her first test three years after
she had her first sex and no later than age 21
and she will continue with the test every three
to five years till age 65. Burden of cervical
cancer Worldwide, over 500,000 new cases are
seen yearly with over 80 percent of them being
from the developing countries. Out of the
estimated 14,550 women who are diagnosed
with the disease in Nigeria annually, 9,659 will
die from it.
Soap and genital washing Soap kills the natural
fauna and flora, thereby exposing the female
genitals to harmful germs, and the vagina won’t
be able to readily fight back. Women should
stop using soap to wash their vagina because it
disturbs the natural flora of the female genitals,
thereby compromising its natural defense
mechanism. Douching can change the
necessary balance of vaginal flora (bacteria that
live in the vagina) and natural acidity in a
healthy vagina. A healthy vagina has good and
harmful bacteria. The balance of bacteria helps
maintain an acidic environment. The acidic
environment protects the vagina from infections
or irritation.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/08/women-
multiple-sex-partners-higher-risk-cervical-cancer/
BENUE NEWS: Women with multiple sex partners at higher risk of cervical cancer- Dr. Okunade
comes in different forms to cause not only
untold physiological hardships, but also costs
millions of Naira in management and treatment,
depending on how long it takes to get cured.
In some cases despite the huge amount of
money spent, the patient may never get cured.
Dr. Kehinde Okunade. The World Health
Organisation, WHO, 2014 report, states that
about 2.083 people have died of cancer in
Nigeria; there are 100,000 new cases of cancer
annually, with about 80,000 people succumbing
to the disease. Cervical cancer is one of the
commonest cancers and the second leading
cause of death in Nigerian women. Currently,
reports show that the dreaded disease is
ravaging many women across the country.
Good Health Weekly spoke to Dr. Kehinde
Okunade, a Consultant Oncologist at the Lagos
University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) shortly
after a free screening programme in Lagos
recently. Okunade who is also the Project
Director, Cervical Cancer Programme of
Sebeccly Cancer care and Support centre, said
regular screening has saved many lives from
cervical cancer gave reasons why women who
have persistent HPV infection are at higher risk.
Excerpts: What is cervical cancer? First, let me
start by explaining what the cervix is. The
cervix is the lower part of the uterus (womb) in
the human female reproductive system (neck of
the womb). Cervical cancer is the most
common gynaecological cancer and a leading
cause of cancer deaths among women in
Nigeria.
It starts with disorders abnormal growth of the
cells of the cervix. These abnormal cells then
turn into cancer and the change normally takes
between 10 and 15 years. The main cause of
cervical cancer is persistent infection with
genital Human Papillomavirus, (HPV). Genital
HPV is a virus that is spread by sexual
intercourse.
There are many different types of HPV – up to
150. Certain “high-risk” HPV types can cause
cell changes and cervical cancer. How common
is the virus? Unfortunately, most men and
women who have had sex have been exposed to
HPV.
At least 80 percent of most sexually active
women have been exposed to HPV by age 50.
A person could have been infected with HPV
years ago but only recently had it confirmed in a
test. Out of ignorance, people believe that you
can only get cervical cancer when you are
promiscuous. But that is not true. However,
HPV is not a sign of unfaithfulness. It is not
possible to know when you got HPV or who
gave it to you. You may have had HPV for
many years before it shows up. Anyone who has
ever had sex is at risk of acquiring HPV.
Again, anyone who has had more than one sex
partner and anyone whose sex partners have
had more than one sex partner are at higher risk
for HPV. Also, having HPV does not mean you
will get cancer. Most people get HPV infection,
but very few get cervical cancer. This is
because in most cases, HPV infection goes
away on its own. Sometimes, the HPV infection
does not go away after many years. This type is
called persistent and can lead to cervical
cancer. Those at risk Women who have
persistent HPV infection and who smoke have
multiple sexual partners, women who do not
follow up with testing or treatment after an
abnormal Pap test and women who are HIV
positive are at risk of cervical cancer.
Also, women who had transplanted organs,
women on steroid medications and on
chemotherapy are also at risk of cervical
cancer. Prevention To prevent cervical cancer,
it is important for women to limit the number of
sex partners they have. It is also important for
women to choose a sex partner who has had
none or few prior sex partners. Keeping a
healthy diet and lifestyle is important.
There is also the need for women to protect
themselves during sex. For instance, the use of
condoms consistently and correctly during
sexual activity. It is also important for women
to get regular screening (Pap smear) and follow
up, if necessary.
Mothers should also ensure that their girl child
is vaccinated with HPV vaccine by the age 9 to
26 years. Also HPV DNA test can find “high-
risk” HPV types. You can prevent cervical
cancer with screening. Screening is the search
for diseases, such as cancer, in people without
symptoms. Cervical cancer is the easiest
female cancer to prevent through screening and
it has saved thousands of lives. There are
various types of screening for cervical cancer.
These include; cervical cytology (standard), Pap
smear, Liquid based cytology (LBC), Human
papillomavirus (HPV) testing, visual inspection
with – acetic acid (VIA) and lugols iodine (VILI)
amongst others. In the case of Pap test, a
woman should do her first test three years after
she had her first sex and no later than age 21
and she will continue with the test every three
to five years till age 65. Burden of cervical
cancer Worldwide, over 500,000 new cases are
seen yearly with over 80 percent of them being
from the developing countries. Out of the
estimated 14,550 women who are diagnosed
with the disease in Nigeria annually, 9,659 will
die from it.
Soap and genital washing Soap kills the natural
fauna and flora, thereby exposing the female
genitals to harmful germs, and the vagina won’t
be able to readily fight back. Women should
stop using soap to wash their vagina because it
disturbs the natural flora of the female genitals,
thereby compromising its natural defense
mechanism. Douching can change the
necessary balance of vaginal flora (bacteria that
live in the vagina) and natural acidity in a
healthy vagina. A healthy vagina has good and
harmful bacteria. The balance of bacteria helps
maintain an acidic environment. The acidic
environment protects the vagina from infections
or irritation.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/08/women-
multiple-sex-partners-higher-risk-cervical-cancer/
BENUE NEWS: Women with multiple sex partners at higher risk of cervical cancer- Dr. Okunade
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