September is cervical cancer awareness month. This is a cancer that affects millions of South African women - and which is made worse by co-infection with HIV. Most of you women reading this newsletter will have regular PAP smears - or you should do. The current recommendation is for an annual PAP smear, although there is now evidence that if you have regular negative smears, once every three years is sufficient. But that option is not available in the public sector and many women only present when the cancer is well-established and potentially fatal. A tragedy in such a preventable disease - particulary so as it tends to affect younger women who still have young families. There is now a vaccine available against the human papilloma virus - infection with this virus is probably the main cause of cervical cancer - and the majority of women who are sexually active will have been exposed to the virus. But again, because of cost constraints, the vaccine will not be available to young women in the public sector. The age at which this vaccine is offered overseas - to school girls - is also causing some controversy. There is a suggestion that, along with access to contraception, this will encourage early sexual activity. However, most people are pragmatic, and it is likely that women in high-income countries will have one more element available in their armour against this common cancer. Interestingly enough the first case of terminal cervical cancer I saw was as a GP in Scotland some years ago - someone who had slipped through the screening net. Just an illustration of how important that regular screening is - and how easy for many of us.
Bridget Farham Editor https://www.bizcommunity.com