KATHMANDU: Cancer has been bothering many women lately. Of all the cancers, cervical cancer has become more serious lately.
Considering the gravity of the issue, Khabarhub’s Bina Neupane approached oncologist, Dr. Ritu Baral. Excerpts:
Recently, cancer is considered a serious problem, how to understand this problem?
In my experience, it has increased a lot now. This is detected for two reasons, one is that it can first be detected by doing an MRI CT scan.
As this service is available in every hospital, cancer is detected early. It may have been known before but it may not have been discovered. Cancer cases are also detected due to the current lifestyle, diet and dust.
What causes cervical cancer in women?
It is caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV). We name them 6 and 18. It is more common in women who have sex with many people. It also occurs in women who smoke a lot.
Will this virus cause cancer as soon as it spreads?
This virus is more spread among women who have sex with many people. It can happen to other women too.
This virus does not cause cancer immediately. It takes 10 to 15 years for cancer to develop after contracting this virus.
For some, it gets better by itself. Only some people get this cancer. We women should take care of our health.
Many symptoms appear before this cancer. One should take the doctor’s advice as soon as bad water flows.
Cleaning can be done; it is done in every hospital. There is BIA, a visual infection, after putting a little acid on it, one can easily see whether the color changes or not.
If the color changes, the doctors send the patient to other hospitals with better services.
At another hospital, the gynecologist doctor takes a small brush-like swab called a cervical pap smear and sends it to us. We call it a pap smear.
From that, we look at the cells inside the uterus to find out what has changed, whether it is a sign of cancer or infection.
If there are cancer-related symptoms, we detect them and give a report and the gynecologist will look at it and suggest what to do or what treatment to take ahead.
Even after a pap smear, it takes about 10 years for cancer to develop. So the main thing is that we women should be conscious about our health.
Now in which age group this problem has appeared?
It is said that the WHO will do a pap smear this year. This is not possible in a developing country like ours.
However, the government of Nepal has also said that women of the age group above 30 years should undergo a screening test at intervals of 5 years.
It takes 10 years for a virus to cause cancer, so if you get tested at age 30, you get cancer in 40 to 45 years.
Therefore, the Nepal government also has to conduct a screening test at least once after a person reaches 30 years. The regular test every five years is better.
Why doesn’t the doctor tell the patient what the report is, after going to the hospital and checking?
The report of this cleaning test might not come. However, you should be aware of it and ask the doctors what the report shows.
What is the treatment process after identifying cervical cancer?
If the report is bad, if it is cancer, it is better to see the cancer doctor. If you have cancer, you should go to an oncologist without wasting time.
What should you pay attention to so that such a problem does not occur?
Preventing cancer means staying away from the causes of cancer. There are not many people who have sex with many people in our society.
However, if there is someone who has, she should stop it. Everyone should pay more attention to food.
For non-smokers, the human papillomavirus vaccine is available for ages 9 to 14. However, it can be applied by people for up to 30 years.
Is this vaccine available to all Nepalis?
This is a vaccine to buy. The government of Nepal has not made it free.
How does this vaccine function?
This vaccine is against the papillomavirus that causes cervical cancer. It destroys the papillomavirus.
What kind of cancer is more common in Nepal?
Cervical cancer is the most common cancer among women and ovarian cancer cases are also increasing.
Are there other must-know facts about cancer?
If you have vaginal discharge, white discharge, or blood during sexual intercourse, I suggest that you go to the nearest health post without concealing the disease and go to a specialist doctor as per the advice there.
You should not be disappointed that you have cancer as it can be healed if treated on time.
Therefore, even if there is cancer, it can be treated and even if there is no cancer, one is relieved that there is no cancer.
Ask the doctor to check the cervical fluid after reaching 30 years; the cleaning test helps one ward off the chances of getting cancer.
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