Women urged to screen for cervical cancer regularly

Abu Dhabi: Despite the availability of an effective vaccine against cervical cancer, the disease remains the second cause for cancer-related deaths among women in the country, leading health professionals said in the capital yesterday.

Women therefore have been urged to screen themselves regularly against the disease while also availing of vaccinations if they have not yet been sexually active.

"An average of 55 new cases are diagnosed every year across the UAE. And because the symptoms of cervical cancer like bleeding and discharges appear very late, and there is usually no way to assist a patient who has been diagnosed with the disease in these advanced stages," Dr Jalaa Taher, senior programme manager at the Health Authority Abu Dhabi (HAAD), said

She was speaking on the sidelines of the 2nd National Women's Health Conferenc. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), cervical cancer is the second most prevalent cancer among women worldwide, and its incidence is on the rise globally. It is caused by the Human Papilloma virus [HPV] that is transmitted sexually.

"However, it takes nearly 20 years for the virus to make cells cancerous. This is why women must screen themselves every three to five years, especially as the cancer is 95 per cent preventable if detected early," Dr Taher said.

"In addition, young women who have not yet had intercourse can benefit from the vaccination that has proven to be effective against most forms of the disease," she added.

Screening for the cancer involves a test known as the pap smear, which indicates abnormalities in cells, explained Dr Ritu Nambiar, chief of service for Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Al Rahba Hospital.

"While prevalence for the cancer in the Middle East is 4.8 among 100,000 of the population, it is reported at 9.9 per 100,000 people in the UAE, making it the third most prevalent cancer among women in the UAE. But the disease is fully preventable, so women should be made aware that they can be almost be fully protected against it if they get vaccinated and screened," she said.

Dr Taher also said an awareness campaign about the disease would be launched by the HAAD in the first quarter of 2012.

"We have been vaccinating female 11th graders in the emirate since 2008. Free vaccinations are also available through Thiqa insurance for all Emiratis. We are now working to roll out these free vaccinations for expatriates next year," she added.

Currently, these vaccinations, which comprise of three shots, cost expatriates between Dh220 and Dh367 each.