Cervical cancer is a cancer that arises in the cervix of the uterus (womb).
Cervical cancer happens when cells change in a woman’s cervix, which connects her uterus with her vagina. This cancer can affect the deeper tissues of her cervix and may spread to other parts of her body (metastasize), often the lungs, liver, bladder, vagina, and rectum.
Cervical cancer grows slowly, so there’s usually time to find and treat it before it causes serious problems. It kills fewer and fewer women each year, thanks to improved screening through Pap tests.
Most cases are linked to infection with human papillomavirus (HPV).
This is because if sexually active, females from the age of 14 to 65, can contract cervical cancer as the HPV is classified a sexually-transmitted infection and cervical cancer is a type of cancer that occurs in the cells of the cervix; the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina.
Different types of HPV can cause skin warts, genital warts, and other skin disorders. Others are linked to cancers involving the vulva, vagina, penis, anus, tongue, and tonsils.
HPV infection may cause cervical dysplasia, or abnormal growth of cervical cells, which is considered a precancerous condition.
Speaking about the campaign, Managing Director/Chief Strategist, Chain Reactions Nigeria, Israel Jaiye Opayemi, said: “Women are gatekeepers of life. They contribute to every part of our lives as mothers, sisters, daughters, wives, friends and colleagues, offering support to men and the family.
At Chain Reactions Nigeria, we celebrate our women; which is why all of us male executives are championing this cause to share their experience, and to empathise with women who are going through cervical cancer. Truth is, whatever affects the women in our lives, affects every one of us.
“Globally, cervical cancer kills 720 women daily; that is one woman every two minutes. In Nigeria, out of the 14,000 women diagnosed with cervical cancer, about 30 of them die from the disease on daily basis, totalling over 10,000 daily. “95% of cervical cancer diagnosis is attributed to lack of knowledge and failure to undergo pap smear screening, hence, the reason for Chain Reactions Nigeria partnering the St. Ives Healthcare group.”
If you were diagnosed with cervical cancer, first, your doctor will have to determine the cancer’s stage, meaning its size, and whether it has spread to other parts of the body.
The doctor will choose a treatment that’s most likely to shrink the cancer based on the stage and what type of cervical cancer it is.
Doctor will also consider your age and whether you want to maintain your ability to have children.
Cervical cancer treatments include: Chemotherapy, Radiation, Surgery, Targeted therapy
The type of surgery you have depends on how large the cancer has grown and whether it has spread.
