NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 22 – Every year the world marks its cancer awareness week every 22 January in a bid to sensitize the masses of an array of aspects on dealing with different types of cancers.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) Cancer is a large group of diseases that can start in almost any organ or tissue of the body when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably, go beyond their usual boundaries to invade adjoining parts of the body and/or spread to other organs.
In an exclusive interview with Capital FM News, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) Chief Research Officer and Head of Sexual Reproductive and Adolescent Child Health Research Program (SRACH-RP) Dr Nelly Mugo has called for preventive measures in the war against cancer in the country.
Dr Mugo who specializes in Cervical cancer that is majorly associated with women reveals that Cervical cancer is the most common type of cancer in Africa.
Data from the World Health Organization (WHO) show that it is also the fourth most common type of cancer globally withan estimated 604 000 new cases and 342 000 deaths in 2020.
The major causative agent for cervical cancer is the Human papilloma virus (HPV) which attacks young women and can stay in the body for up to 15 years from the time it invades the body before one gets to see the first signs of cervical cancer.
“Now, the human papillomavirus is an extremely common virus. We have over 100 types of HPV viruses, but we have about 13 now. So, the peak time for HPV infections for most young women is 18 to 25, peaks at 25. And most of us will get rid of it. Actually, data shows 80% would have had an HPV infection by that age,” said Dr Mugo.
Cervical cancer is the most common type of cancer in the continent and it accounts for a staggering 22% of all female cancers and 12% of all newly diagnosed cancers in women every year according to Dr Mugo.
Cervical cancer has largely been associated with women in their most productive years.
The signs, Dr Mugo says show up for most women after the age in their 30s, though the call starts much earlier in their lives.
Signs of Cervical Cancer
According to Dr Mugo, some of the common signs of Cervical cancer include foul smell emanating from the female reproductive organ and bleeding.
She however maintains that symptoms may vary and such symptoms may sometimes not be cancer.
“So, if you have some bleeding, if you have discharge, it doesn’t mean it’s cancer. Please get a checkup, “she said.
Mitigative measures
Dr Mugo maintains that screening and early diagnosis is among the safest ways of dealing with cervical cancer considering it takes a long time(10-15years) before one can actually see the first signs of cervical cancer.
Taking the HPV vaccine, she maintains, is very cardinal especially among the youth. She called on parents to ensure that their children are subjected to the HPV vaccine as the first line of defense against cancer.
“The government of Kenya has availed this vaccine at no fee at public facilities across the country. So, girls ages nine to 15 can get the vaccine, there’s also an ongoing school program. So, if your child’s been told, please, there’ll be a vaccine to reach out, kindly allow your child to be protected from cervical cancer,” she added.
Pre-cancer, she adds, can be diagnosed in the outpatient and also treated and prevented.
