Hong Kong Canto-pop star Anita Mui died from complications of cervical cancer in December 2003. Hundreds attended her funeral, including fellow Hong Kong singer and friend Nicholas Tse (left) who helped to carry her portrait after she was cremated in January 2004.
Annually, 100 Singaporean women die from this disease and about 200 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer, making it the fifth most common cancer among women from the period 1998 to 2002.
Hong Kong celebrity Anita Mui succumbed to it.
Annually, 100 Singaporean women die from this disease. Every year, about 200 women in Singapore are diagnosed with cervical cancer. It is the fifth most common cancer among Singaporean women from the period 1998 to 2002.
Yet, unlike other cancers, cervical cancer can be prevented with early detection.
What causes it
Nobody knows the cause of cervical cancer, but there are factors that are associated with it, such as multiple sex partners, smoking and sexually transmitted infections like genital herpes and warts.
Cervical cancer occurs when normal cells in the cervix change into cancer cells.
The cervix is the entrance to the womb.
Popular myths, misconceptions
Some women believe that they do not need a pap smear test since they are healthy, said Dr Chew Ling, the program manger of CervicalScreen Singapore. But this is untrue because changes in the cervix occur without symptoms.
“These changes need to be detected and treated before they develop into cancer,” said Dr Chew. Another misconception is that women who have gone through menopause do not need a pap smear.
But the reality is that the risk of developing the cancer increases with age, and even women who have never had any sexual intercourse should go for a screening irrespective of her age.
Symptoms
If you experience an unusual or foul smelling discharge from the vagina, bleeding or pain during sex or blood spots or light bleeding when you are not having your periods or after menopause, you should consult a doctor immediately.
Since cervical cancer develops from a pre-cancerous stage when the cervical cells undergo abnormal changes, these changes can be detected through regular pap smear screening.
Treating it then can prevent it from developing into cancer.
Treatment
A common treatment involves using a diathermy loop (a fine wire loop that uses electrical energy) or laser to remove the small affected area on the cervix.
Regular follow-up sessions after the treatment is crucial as there is always the possibility of recurrence.
Surgery, radiation treatment and/or chemotherapy may be offered depending on how advanced the disease is.
You should, however, avoid having a pap smear if you are pregnant. “You should have a pap smear done after the delivery of your baby. This is usually done at the sixth week during the post-natal checkup,” said Dr Chew.
You should also avoid the pap smear test if you are having your period near to or on the test date. “The blood cells that are shed during your period may affect the accuracy of your pap smear result.”
Instead, schedule an appointment for the test two weeks after the start of your period.