Unfortunately, majority of Kenyan women have not been screened for cervical cancer hence the increasing numbers of deaths linked to cervical cancer in Kenya.
As 70 countries across the world hold the Globathon – a global event to end women gynaecological cancers, Women 4 Cancer has planned a walk on September 27 at Karura Forest.
The organisation expects to raise awareness and also encourage women to go for cervical cancer screening annually.
“Come and walk to support women. We will be telling people to do their bit, to get screened. We will pass information on facts about cervical cancer,” Kithaka explained.
Cervical Cancer
Majority of cervical cancer cases are caused by Human papillomavirus (HPV) which is a sexually transmitted virus. According to Kithaka, the cancer can clear in some women especially when detected early.
In the West, five in every 100,000 women have cervical cancer. However in East African countries, the trend is worrisome as there are 42 women in every 100,000 women with cervical cancer.
But why is the case?
“Because in Africa we don’t screen as much as the West do. In Africa we have not taken up the call for the government providing this service as it is done in the West (where) at the age of 18 you are getting a reminder and you are booked for screening at the age of 21 – here we don’t do that. We leave it to the devices of women to discover for themselves,” she explained.
Annual screening of cervical cancer is encouraged because it takes between 10 and 15 years to develop into cancer.
Kithaka says upon detection, doctors make decisions on the mode of treatment and determining if the cells developing are cancerous or not.
“We have a window of 10 years to discover the cells before they turn cancerous. It is easily detectable, and early detection does save life. Some women are asked to observe for six months because chances are they could clear by themselves,” she said.
If one has pre cancer cells (before becoming cancerous), they can be treated through a method called cryotherapy which is freezing of the cells so that they cannot develop quickly.
If a woman has pre cancer cells and they are not treated at an early stage it develops to a stage where it becomes cancerous and spreads.
About The Author
