Cervical cancer refers to tumours that grow on the cervix. It is caused by infection by the HPV virus (Human Papilloma Virus), which is transmitted sexually.

 

Some of the symptoms you may observe include vaginal spotting, bleeding in between your menses periods, vaginal pain during intercourse, and abdominal pain.

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SHOULD I GET CHECKED?

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All sexually active women should be screened, with either a PAP smear, or a HPV DNA test.

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In Singapore, women can get screened from the age of 25 onwards. 

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From the age of 25 to 29 years old, women can get a PAP smear done every 3 years, to look for any abnormal cervical cells which may indicate an early tumour.

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From the age of 30 years old onwards, women can switch to getting a HPV test instead, which looks for signs of a persistent HPV infection that increases the risk of developing cervical cancer. Women can go for this screening test every 5 years.

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All sexually active women should be screened, even if they have had intercourse only once.

 

If you are not sexually active, you may not want to be screened, but you can still go for screening tests if you want.

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HOW IS SCREENING DONE?

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In both a PAP smear and a HPV DNA test, your doctor will perform a speculum examination to see if the cervix looks normal.

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The speculum is inserted with a little bit of lubricant. It shouldn't hurt, since the speculum itself is not very large.

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A cervical tumour can be seen as a mass on the cervix - in which case your doctor will refer you for an urgent review with a gynaecologist to have it assessed further.

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The doctor will use a small brush to scrape some cells form the lining of the cervix, and transfer the sample into a tube to be checked in a laboratory.

 

You may feel a 'pulling' sensation and some minor discomfort during this part, but it shouldn't hurt. It is normal to have a little bit of bleeding or vaginal spotting for a few days, but it won't be very bad, and it'll stop on its own.

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Your doctor will call you back to go over the results once your report is in.

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PREVENTION IS

THE BEST CURE

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As with any disease, preventing cervical cancer is always better than treating it. 

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You should get vaccinated, with a HPV vaccine. There are a few different kinds, but the dosing regimes are largely similar.

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The number of doses you take depends on your age.

 

For girls aged 9 to 14 years old, they can take 2 doses 5 to 12 months apart.

 

For girls and women aged 15 and above, they can take 3 doses, (1st dose, followed by the 2nd dose 2 months later, and the 3rd dose 6 months from the 1st dose).

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There are several kinds of vaccines to take, although the dosing schedules are all the same. Here are a few:

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Cervarix: it protects against the HPV strains 16 and 18, which are the 2 high risk strains implicated in 70% of cervical cancers.

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Gardasil 4: it protects against HPV strains 6,11,16 and 18. The additional protection is against strains implicated in causing pre-cancer lesions genital warts.

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Gardasil 9: it protects against the HPV strains 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52 and 58. These additional strains are implicated in causing both pre-cancer lesions and genital warts.

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WHICH VACCINE SHOULD I TAKE?

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Any of the 3 are sufficient to offer significant protection against the viral infection that causes cervical cancer. 

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Cervarix only covers 2 strains, but is actually sufficient since it protects against the strains that cause 70% of cervical cancers. 

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Gardasil 9 offers protection against more strains, but is more expensive as well.

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I'M VACCINATED.

SHOULD I STILL GO FOR SCREENING TESTS?

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Definitely! Being vaccinated will reduce the risk of developing cervical cancer, but it is still important to be screened as no vaccine offers 100% protection, and there are still HPV strains that can cause a HPV infection and cervical cancer.

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Your vaccination will not cause any false positive results for your screening tests.

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WRAP IT UP!

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There is a vaccine that helps prevent a type of cancer. Get vaccinated!

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There are screening tests that reliably pick up cervical cancer. Get screened!

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Make the time to get screened and vaccinated, and protect yourself from cervical cancer.

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