Know More about Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer is the third most common cancer among young women in Malaysia after ovarian and breast cancer.

According to the Midwifery and Gynecology Specialist at KPJ Batu Pahat Hospital, Dr. Norliza Mat Desa, all women who have or are actively having sex are at risk of getting cervical cancer. Dr. Norliza added, Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection is the main factor that further increases a person's risk of getting cervical cancer. The virus can be spread through sexual activity or contact.

"Promiscuous sexual activity, having a partner who also has sex with more than one partner or having sex with an infected person are among the reasons that the individual can get an HPV virus infection, further risking getting cervical cancer." "Other factors for a person to get cervical cancer include smoking, long-term use of oral contraceptives, having a history of cervical cancer in the family or having a low level of immunity in the body," she said.

According to Dr. Norliza, although cervical cancer rarely shows obvious symptoms in the early stages, if symptoms occur such as unusual vaginal bleeding, pain in the waist or lower abdomen/pelvis, pain or discomfort during sex, vaginal discharge that is liquid, bloody and foul-smelling. Therefore, these at-risk groups are advised to see a gynaecologist immediately.

"Cervical cancer is a disease that may take years to mutate. Therefore, I advise married women to have a pap smear test every three years."
"Pap smear tests can be done at hospitals and health clinics or private clinics and hospitals that provide the facility. This test does not take long by simply taking a sample of cells from the cervical area to get the results.” she said.

She also explained that the perception of cervical cancer patients having sexual habits such as being too active and frequently changing partners needs to be corrected. This is because, he said, even if the person has only one partner, they are still at risk of getting HPV infection which can lead to cervical cancer.
He explained that HPV can be curbed with a vaccination injection which is usually given as many as three doses in a period of six months to complete the woman's antibodies against the virus.

“The vaccine can only prevent certain types of HPV infection and does not treat existing HPV infection. Usually, the vaccine should be taken before a person becomes sexually active."
"Prevention is better than cure, I advise all women to do a pap smear test that only takes less than a minute because the results of the test can identify the health level of a woman's cervix," explained Dr. Norliza. – Mingguan Malaysia