Cervical cancer is cancer of the cervix, the neck of the womb. It is one of the most common cancers in women in Afghanistan. Almost all cases are caused by long-lasting infection with certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV), which is passed on through sex. It grows slowly over many years, so screening tests can find and treat changes before they become cancer, and the HPV vaccine can prevent it.
Symptoms
Often no symptoms in the early stages
Bleeding after sex
Bleeding between periods or after menopause
Watery, bloody or bad-smelling discharge
Pain in the lower belly or during sex
In late stages: back or leg pain, swollen legs, weight loss
Causes
Long-lasting infection with high-risk types of HPV — the main cause
Marriage or first sex at a young age
Many pregnancies
Smoking
A weak immune system, for example with HIV
Never having had a screening test
Prevention
HPV vaccine for girls aged 9 to 14, where available
Screening tests (VIA, Pap smear or HPV test) from about age 30, every 3 to 5 years
Treatment of abnormal changes found on screening
Avoid smoking
Delaying marriage and first pregnancy until adulthood lowers the risk
Treatment
Early changes (pre-cancer) can be treated with a simple procedure such as freezing (cryotherapy) or heat treatment
Surgery to remove the cervix or womb in early cancer
Radiotherapy and chemotherapy for more advanced cancer
Treatment is planned by cancer specialists
Pain relief and support for the woman and her family
Common questions
Is the screening test painful?
No, it is usually quick and only a little uncomfortable. A female health worker can do it in a private room, and it takes only a few minutes.
If I have HPV, will I get cancer?
Usually not. Most HPV infections clear by themselves within 1 to 2 years. Only infections that last many years can cause cancer, which is why regular screening matters.
