Cervical cancer accounts for 13pc of all cancer de...

Cervical cancer accounts for 13pc of all cancer deaths: Report

Audrey Galawu

Cervical cancer has the highest death rate as compared to all other cancers in Zimbabwe, the 2018 Zimbabwe National Cancer Registry (ZNCR) annual report released on Tuesday reveals.

This comes as October has been recognised as the Breast cancer Awareness Month running under the theme Think pink, find it, fight it and win the battle.

A total of 2 743 deaths were recorded in Bulawayo, Harare and Chitungwiza in 2018 with men accounting for 1 248 (45.5%) deaths while women accounted for 1 495 deaths (54.5%).

Cervical cancer was the leading cause of all cancer deaths with 13% followed by prostate (10%), Breast (7%), oesophagus (7%), liver (7%), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (6%), lung (5%), colo-rectal (4%).

Other cancers accounted for 36% of all cancer deaths.

Lovemore Makurirofa from the Cancer Association of Zimbabwe (CAZ) said cervical cancer is the most common cancer not only in Zimbabwe but in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is also the most preventable of all cancers as it takes a longer time progressing in the cervix.

The cause of the rise in incidences and mortality is because of its relation to the Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV).

“Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest number of people living with HIV, women living with HIV are likely to develop cervical cancer if their immune systems are compromised.

“Women should get screened for at least once in three years and girls should get vaccinated against HPV to reduce chances of developing cervical cancer.

“As much as cervical cancer is common, it is also the most preventable of all cancers as it takes a longer time for up to 15 years progressing in the cervix and from abnormal cells until they become pre-cancer to cancer cells,” he said.

Makurirofa urged women to engage in safe sex to prevent infections that could lead to the development of cervical cancer.