Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers, but women should not wait for symptoms before getting screened.
Fiji’s first in-country trained gynaecological oncologist, Dr Nanise Sikiti, says screening is intended for women who feel healthy, as it can detect pre-cancerous changes before they develop into cancer.
Speaking during fijivillage Her-Story with Temalesi Vono, Dr Sikiti says one of the biggest misconceptions about cervical cancer is that it is inevitable and nothing can be done to prevent it.
She says cervical cancer is mainly caused by persistent infection with high-risk types of human papillomavirus, or HPV.
Dr Sikiti says HPV is extremely common, with an estimated 80 percent chance of exposure during a women’s lifetime.
She says HPV should not be associated with shame or judgement, as it is a common virus and the high-risk types that cause most cervical cancers are mainly sexually transmitted.
Insert: Dr Sikiti - Screening is for you Sept 11
Dr Sikiti says there are five gynaecological cancers women should be aware of, including cervical, uterine, ovarian, vaginal and bowel cancers.
She says uterine cancer can present through abnormal bleeding, particularly bleeding after menopause, while ovarian cancer can be more difficult to detect because there is no effective population-based screening test and its symptoms can be vague.
Dr Sikiti says women should know their bodies and pay attention to persistent changes that are different from what is normal for them.
She says warning signs that should not be ignored include persistent bleeding, bleeding between periods, bleeding after intercourse or menopause, abnormal or foul-smelling vaginal discharge, unusual abdominal pain, abdominal swelling and persistent bloating.
However, Dr Sikiti stresses that experiencing these symptoms does not necessarily mean a woman has cancer.
She says they indicate that a woman should be evaluated, as several non-cancerous conditions can cause similar symptoms.
Dr Sikiti says the key message is for women to seek medical attention when they notice that their bodies are not the same as before.
