Women warned of cervical cancer
Wednesday, February 15, 2014
Fiji Times
WOMEN in the 30-39 years age group are vulnerable to cervical cancer.
The principal medical officer at the Oxfam clinic at the Colonial Memorial War Hospital, Doctor Vijayalakshmi Garimella, said cervical cancer was the top cancer in women in the country and was deadly.
“We have seen many women in the past die of cervical cancer,” she said.
In 2004, 102 women had cervical cancer, 94 in 2003 and 106 in 2002.
Dr Garimella said last year’s figure was not collated but it was higher than 2004.
“Most do not survive. They are not aware of the pap smear tests carried out in health centres.
“They come to us at a very late stage when there is no prevention.”
Dr Garimella said cervical cancer only affected women who are sexually active and could be prevented if they had regular pap smear tests.
“Cervical cancer grows slowly through a pre-cancerous phase which lasts several years before cancer actually develops.
“A pap smear can detect pre-cancerous cells in the cervix,” she said.
Dr Garimella said they were creating awareness by visiting garment factories and talking to women about the importance of having Pap smear testing.
“Now like last year approximately 12-13 thousand women did tests at CWM. And we trying to do as much awareness as we can so that all women start doing Pap smear test,” she said.
