Cervical cancer
Cervical cancer is cancer of the cervix, the neck of the womb. It is one of the most common cancers in women in Afghanistan. Almost all cases are caused by long-lasting infection with certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV), which is passed on through sex. It grows slowly over many years, so screening tests can find and treat changes before they become cancer, and the HPV vaccine can prevent it.
Symptoms
- Often no symptoms in the early stages
- Bleeding after sex
- Bleeding between periods or after menopause
- Watery, bloody or bad-smelling discharge
- Pain in the lower belly or during sex
- In late stages: back or leg pain, swollen legs, weight loss
Causes
- Long-lasting infection with high-risk types of HPV — the main cause
- Marriage or first sex at a young age
- Many pregnancies
- Smoking
- A weak immune system, for example with HIV
- Never having had a screening test
Prevention
- HPV vaccine for girls aged 9 to 14, where available
- Screening tests (VIA, Pap smear or HPV test) from about age 30, every 3 to 5 years
- Treatment of abnormal changes found on screening
- Avoid smoking
- Delaying marriage and first pregnancy until adulthood lowers the risk
Treatment
- Early changes (pre-cancer) can be treated with a simple procedure such as freezing (cryotherapy) or heat treatment
- Surgery to remove the cervix or womb in early cancer
- Radiotherapy and chemotherapy for more advanced cancer
- Treatment is planned by cancer specialists
- Pain relief and support for the woman and her family
Common questions
Is the screening test painful?
No, it is usually quick and only a little uncomfortable. A female health worker can do it in a private room, and it takes only a few minutes.
If I have HPV, will I get cancer?
Usually not. Most HPV infections clear by themselves within 1 to 2 years. Only infections that last many years can cause cancer, which is why regular screening matters.