Cheap way to test and prevent cervical cancer
Women can now take a simple, cheap visual test to determine if they are at risk of cervical cancer.
Hospitals in western Kenya are conducting free tests on women in reproductive age to detect and treat signs of the life threatening disease.
In the Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid test, table vinegar that retails for Sh40 to test for the presence of lesions on the cervix that could develop into cancer but are not easily visible.
Dr Paul Mitei, the Head of Gynaecology at Kisumu Provincial Hospital, says the method is as effective as the more expensive Pap smear test yet the later requires sophisticated equipment, training and logistics.
The cancer is one of the leading killers of women. “Cervical cancer is common and for most women by the time they come to hospital, the disease has advanced and it is beyond surgery,” Mitei says.
Studies show the most efficient and effective secondary prevention of cervical cancer in areas with inadequate resources is the approach that involves the visual inspection of the cervix by swabbing it with vinegar, then treating precancerous lesions using Cryo-therapy (freezing). The procedure is done in a single visit and can be carried out by doctors, nurses and midwives. “In 10 minutes it is possible to detect and treat the women for pre-cancer. This is important because in the past when you asked women to go home and come back for the results they either did not or did when the tumour was advanced reducing the chances of successful treatment,” Dr Mitei says. Treatment of pre-cancerous cells costs Sh500.
Dr Jacton Omotto a gynaecologist at Siaya District Hospital says due to prohibitive costs there has been a huge discrepancy between cervical cancer deaths in rich and poor nations. “Pap smears requires highly sophisticated laboratory equipment and trained technicians. Pap screening programs have not worked well in poorer regions of the country including Kenya,” Dr Omotto says.
Cervical cancer cases have risen among young women. “This is mainly due to increased risk factors. Women who are HIV positive tend to develop cancer of the cervix,” Dr Omotto says. “The biggest risk factor is the HPV which is transmitted sexually. High-risk behaviour such as multiple sexual partners and unprotected sex exposes one to the virus. “The presence of this virus increases the risk of one getting the lesions,” Dr Omotto says. Other factors include early sexual debut before the genital organs are fully developed, cigarette smoking and hereditary.
