Regular pap smears essential to prevention

Having survived cervical cancer, Purwati Pangestuti, a 57-year-old homemaker, now understands that good health is truly a blessing.

She also knows that having cervical cancer does not mean her life is over.

The disease is curable. But, the cure is not simple or easy.

When Purwati first got the news, she really could not take in the reality of it all.

“It was so hard to believe that I had one of the most malignant cancers,” she told The Jakarta Post last week.

“It was terrible, not only for me but also for my entire family,” she said, adding that no one could be prepared to receive such a prognosis.

Purwati found out about her illness when she had a pap smear. Later she found out that the cancer was in an advanced stage.

Cervical cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide. In Indonesia, about 20 women die from cervical cancer every day.

More than 70 percent of people found to have cervical cancer discover they have it after going to doctors or hospitals for an examination when their illnesses are already at an advanced stage.

“This causes more deaths from cervical cancer every year, whereas this cancer is curable and preventable,” said Iris Rengganis, an internist at Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital.

Cervical cancer is caused by the growing of abnormal cells in the cervix. Scientific research shows 99.7 percent of cervical cancer is caused by Human Papillomavirus (HPV).

Two kinds of HPV, HPV 16 and HPV 18, are the main causes of 70 percent of cervical cancer cases worldwide.

Iris said women who are sexually active at a young age and have multiple sex partners will be more
susceptible to cervical cancer. Cervical cancer often affects reproductive-age women between 30 and 50 years old.

“The use of condoms only minimizes the infection risk,” said Iris, adding that heavy smokers and people suffering from deficiencies of A, C and E vitamins would also be at a greater risk for HPV.

Women Care about Cervical Cancer Foundation (PPKS) coordinator Hendria Kessek said cervical cancer would not show any symptoms in the early stages.

“As a result, there are many deaths because people who are infected with HPV often go to the hospital after their infections are in advanced stages,” she said.

It can take between 10 and 15 years for people infected with HPV to show clear symptoms of cervical cancer.

Iris said early detection and vaccination were desperately needed and two of the best ways to increase the chances for successful treatment.

It is better to prevent cervical cancer through either early detection or vaccination. The illness is also costly. A cancer patient needs at least Rp 60 million (US$6,780) to pay for surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and biopsies.

A pap smear costs Rp 200,000 and a vaccination between Rp 675,000 and Rp 1 million per dose. (ebf)