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Cervical cancer kills more than breast cancer

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Many young South African women think that cervical cancer is an “older persons” disease and aren’t aware of the dangers that cervical cancer pose to their health and longevity.

The fact is that cervical cancer is alarmingly common amongst Southern African women, and affects roughly 1 in 36 and compared to the world average, cervical cancer is more common than breast cancer in Southern African women between ages 15 and 65.

It is not only more common than breast cancer, but also the most frequent cancer amongst Southern African women between the ages of 15 and 44.

Screening

Merle Loubser, the market access manager at Roche Diagnostics says younger women, even teenagers, should be aware of the risks, because research indicates that more than 19 000 women in Southern Africa from the age of 15 are at risk for cervical cancer and the annual number of deaths between the ages of 15 and 44 caused by cervical cancer is 582 in Southern Africa.

Loubser pointed out that women could reduce the risk of cervical cancer by going for regular screening and also going to health care professionals for the early detection of cervical cancer.

Teenagers could also find out about the effectiveness of the treatment of pre-cancerous lesions and the potential risks to vaccinations available to prevent cervical cancer.

More information: the Cancer Association of South Africa - www.cansa.org.za/cervical-cancer or the SA society of obstetricians and gynaecologists - www.sasog.co.za.

Press release from Roche Diagnostics


Photo:  Hospital theatre from Shutterstock


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