Sunday August 3, 2008
Do you CARE?
By LIM WEY WEN
A new non-profit organisation aims to shed light on cervical cancer.
IN many ways, cervical cancer is like the lesser sibling to breast cancer in the family of malignant diseases that is plaguing the female population today.
While more women are aware of the risk factors of breast cancer and its early detection, many remain relatively ignorant of cervical cancer, which is the leading genital cancer and the second most common cancer in women (after breast cancer) in Malaysia.
“Cervical cancer has always taken a back seat and it is like a silent threat ... but cervical cancer is (also) known as important and known as dangerous,” said consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist Datuk Dr Nor Ashikin Mokhtar.
The enormity of the problem can be seen in the numbers that are affected. “Every year, about half a million women have cervical cancer and about a quarter million die, and it is sad to know that every two minutes a woman dies of cervical cancer,” says Dr Nor Ashikin.
In Malaysia, an average of about 2,000 to 3,000 women are admitted to hospitals for cervical cancer every year and about 500 die from it.
Protem Committee members of Cervical Cancer Awareness Association (CARES), (left to right) Nisriwani Yahaya, Executive Director of Yayasan Dunia Melayu; Mahani Awang, President of Bumiputra Designers Associaton; Datuk Dr Sheikh Muszaphar, First Malaysian Angkasawan and Ambassador to CARES; Datuk Dr Nor Ashikin Mohktar, Medical Advisor to CARES & Executive Chairman of PrimaNora Medical Centre; and Nur Shereen Dzulkiflee, General Manager, PrimaNora Medical Centre. An awareness association
The good news is cervical cancer is highly preventable and curable if detected and treated early. The problem is, ignorance is standing in the way.
The newly formed Cervical Cancer Awareness Association (CARES) - a Malaysian non-profit organisation - aims to reduce cervical cancer incidence in Malaysia by providing direction and education to create cervical cancer awareness. Launched on July 23, CARES also aims to promote cervical cancer screening and prevention.
This is the right time to set up CARES as women now have options to protect themselves against cervical cancer as it is a type of cancer that can be prevented, unlike many other cancers, says Dr Nor Ashikin, who is also the CARES medical advisor.
Vaccination against the most common cause of cervical cancer - the Human Papilloma virus - is now available, and Pap smears can be done to detect early changes in cervical cells.
“Early detection is the second best strategy to primary prevention,” says Dr Nor Ashikin. Primary prevention includes getting vaccinated and practising safe sex and personal hygiene.
“We can prevent cervical cancer, and we can even make it obsolete,” Dr Nor Ashikin added.
Not just a woman’s disease
CARES selection of Malaysia’s first astronaut Datuk Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Al-Masrie as its ambassador is telling of the fact that although cervical cancer exclusively occurs in women, men can be affected in other ways.
As cervical cancer affects the reproductive organs, there are cases where relationships between spouses are strained, ending in divorce, said Dr Nor Ashikin.
Certain cancers that could occur in men, such as penile and anal cancer, are also associated with certain HPV strains (50% of penile cancers and 85% of anal cancers are associated with certain HPV types).
After his participation as a spokesperson for a recent breast cancer campaign, Dr Sheikh Muszaphar’s aspiration to reach out to the community had brought him to CARES.
“I had done cancer research through the Angkasawan programme, and from that life-changing experience alone, my perspective has changed about cancer and the issues of the community and the world, which explains my interest in supporting CARES’ efforts,” he said.
Tribute to women health seminar
In conjunction with the coming Tribute to Women exhibition and trade fair, the public are invited to participate in a Tribute to Women’s Primanora Health seminar to learn more about women’s health and cervical cancer.
CARES protem committee member Mahani Awang, said the objective of this seminar is to create awareness amongst women to be more knowledgeable about their body and ways to keep it in its great condition.
The seminar will be held from Aug 8 to Aug 10, with the exhibition and trade fair at the Mid Valley Exhibition Centre (MVEC) in Kuala Lumpur.
A forum on cervical cancer will be held on Aug 10 at the Boulevard Hotel, Mid Valley City Centre, Kuala Lumpur from 2pm - 5.30pm.
To register for the Tribute to Women Primanora Health Seminar or the forum, you can call Mala or Nadia 03-77252035 or visit www.primanora.com. Admission fee is RM10. Proceeds will go to CARES and your attendance will make you an immediate member of CARES.
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