The cancer causing Human Papillomavirus (HPV) will infect almost every sexually active person at one point in his or her life, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). For some, this infection will occur repeatedly. HPV is responsible for the deaths of about 2,451 women every year in Kenya, despite its easy detection and curability in its early stages.
Cervical cancer is the second most frequent cancer and the leading cause of cancer deaths in Kenyan women of reproductive age (above 15 years). The National Cervical Cancer Prevention Strategic Plan that ended last year indicated that seven out of every 10 cervical cancer patients in the country die from the disease.
Currently, the estimated annual tally of cervical cancer cases in Kenya is 4,802 while the annual number of deaths is 2,451.
What is the Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common viral infection of the reproductive tract. HPV is passed on from one person to another during sex, and is the primary cause of cervical cancer among women.
There are more than 100 types of HPV, many of which do not cause problems, while other types can cause genital or skin warts. HPV infections usually clear up without any intervention within a few months of infection, and about 90% clear within two years. However, at least 13 HPV types are high-risk and are cancer-causing.
This virus is so common that most people get it at some time in their lives. The World Health Organisation (WHO) reports that four out of every five women will get the cervical-cancer causing virus at some point in their life.
What increases my risk for Cervical Cancer?
HPV is sexually transmitted, but penetrative sex is not required for transmission. Skin-to-skin genital contact is a well-recognised mode of transmission.
Other things can increase your risk of cervical cancer include:
- Smoking
- Having HIV or another condition that makes it hard for your body to fight off health problems
- Using birth control pills for a long time (five or more years)
- Having given birth to three or more children
- Having multiple sexual partners
Cervical cancer is more prevalent in HIV infected women thus an area of focus for CHS cancer prevention and management programs.
How can I prevent Cervical Cancer?
Cervical cancer is preventable through vaccination. There are currently two vaccines, which protect against HPV 16 and 18, known to cause at least 70% of cervical cancers. Both vaccines work best if administered prior to exposure to HPV. Therefore, it is preferable to administer them before first sexual activity. However, the vaccines cannot treat HPV infection or associated diseases such as cancer.
Another important step in preventing cervical cancer is for women to conduct regular Pap smear tests. This test looks for pre-cancerous cell changes on the cervix that may develop into cervical cancer if they are not treated appropriately.
The WHO Health Survey of 2003, shows that only 3.5% of all women in Kenya aged 25-64 undertake a regular Pap smear test. This low uptake of regular screening has been cited as one of the reasons for the high number of cervical cancer cases and deaths, not only in Kenya, but also in most developing countries.
Women should start getting Pap tests at the age of 21. If results are normal, the chances of getting cervical cancer in the next few years are very low. Your doctor may recommend another Pap test after three years.
Screening for cervical cancer has been integrated into CHS supported HIV treatment centres. CHS aims to curb the number of deaths from cervical cancer through promoting early diagnosis, treatment of precancerous lesions and chemotherapy.
CHS has trained 26 health care workers to provide cervical cancer screening services to HIV infected women. CHS has also provided speculums, examination lights, and examination coaches and other screening commodities to facilities.
What should I do?
- If you are sexually active and have never performed a Pap smear test, a visit to your gynaecologist would be a great place to start. For those who have had it done before and it has been more than three years, you need to go back for another test and commit to making these visits regular.
- If you are a parent of a teenage girl, you can visit a health facility for HPV immunisation, as it is not part of the Kenyan immunisation schedule.
- If you would like to further lower your risk for cervical cancer:
- Quit smoking
- Be faithful to one sexual partner
