fbpx
Potentash
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Fiction
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Skin + Beauty
  • Health
  • Relationships
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
Potentash
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Fiction
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Skin + Beauty
  • Health
  • Relationships
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
Potentash
No Result
View All Result
Cervical cancer. Image from http://www.medicinenet.com/cervical_cancer_pictures_slideshow/article.htm

Cervical cancer. Image from http://www.medicinenet.com/cervical_cancer_pictures_slideshow/article.htm

Health: What you need to know about cervical cancer – Dr. Kim Mangoa

Nessa Raychael by Nessa Raychael
February 24, 2016
in Kenya, Lifestyle, Wellness
Reading Time: 3 mins read
68 3
0
85
SHARES
473
VIEWS
FacebookTwitterWhatsApp

For a while now cancer has been one of the most feared diseases that one can have. HIV was once upon a time a serious threat but cancer seems to have overtaken it. A few years back I lost a loved one to cervical cancer and to my horror this type of cancer has increasingly been on the rise.

Cervical cancer is a cancer of the entrance of to the womb (uterus). The cervix is the lower, narrow part of the uterus. The uterus is a hollow pear-shaped organ that is located in a woman’s lower abdomen between the bladder and the rectum. The cervix forms a canal that opens into the vagina, which leads to the outside of the body. With many assumptions about cervical cancer, I interviewed one of our own doctors and got better insight into the disease.

Whenever we get certain symptoms we tend to assume that we know the cause and ignore. But keep in mind any odd signs and symptoms can seem so small but should cause an alarm. Dr. Mangoa gave the following symptoms as red flags.

Cervical cancer. Image from http://www.medicinenet.com/cervical_cancer_pictures_slideshow/article.htm
Cervical cancer. Image from http://www.medicinenet.com/cervical_cancer_pictures_slideshow/article.htm

1. Abnormal vaginal bleeding is not a light matter. You may assume that it’s your periods or have other suspicions but abnormal bleeding is not normal regardless of whatever age you are. Any bleeding that occurs between periods, during sex or menopause or is too heavy is a cause for alarm.

2. Pain during sexual intercourse is also a symptom that should lead you to a doctor, particularly a gynecologist; sex should be pleasurable and not painful.

3. A foul smelling vaginal discharge is also another sign that should raise an eyebrow. This is usually the nature of the infection and the discharge may either be pale, watery, brown and tinged with blood.

4. There may be difficulty urinating or defecating due to obstruction.

5. There may be sudden weight loss that is not to be ignored as this may mean the cancer is already overwhelming your immune system

The problem with cancer is that if it is not discovered early enough it then progresses and destroys other organs. Early diagnosis is very important and can save you, to diagnose cervical cancer you should schedule a pap smear. In case the growth is big a biopsy is taken (sample of the abnormal tissue is taken).

If the results are positive for cervical cancer, treatment could be surgical. If the cancer is found earlier there would be a local excision or removal of the uterus together with the cervix. To be sure that the cancer cells are not present it is advisable that radiotherapy is added on as well as chemotherapy for a less risk of the cancer returning.

Dr. Mangoa emphasized that prevention is better than cure. Kenya is now offering vaccinations for cervical cancer and in October there are hospitals such as The Kenyatta National Hospital that offer free pap smears and general checkups.

“So it true that having multiple sexual partners may increase the risk of getting cervical cancer?” I asked.

According to Dr. Mangoa, delaying first sexual experience and having few partners reduces the risk of Human papilloma Virus which is what causes the cancer. There is nothing proven when it comes to diet apart from the vaccine and having fewer sex partners also decreases the risk. Condoms do stop the transmission of HPV as well. The best prevention would be to go for a HPV vaccination, have annual pap smears and be constant with one sexual partner. At the end of the day, keep safe, eat healthy, do things to better your health and strengthen your immunity.

Share34Tweet21SendShare6Pin8
Previous Post

Grooming fails for men

Next Post

Safaricom Lewa Marathon will be on 25th June. Registration starts tomorrow

Nessa Raychael

Nessa Raychael

Vanessa Raychael is a young writer passionate about writing. She is a student at Daystar University. She has written for the People newspaper as a fiction writer and she also hosts a show in a gospel station known as Vision TV. During her spare time, she likes nature trails, spending time with friends and going for events. You can check out her work on her blog nochills.blogspot.com

Next Post
From left; Lewa Wildlife Conservancy CEO, Mike Watson, Lewa Marathon- Head of Anti Poaching, Edward Ndiritu and Safaricom Limited, Director Strategy & Innovation, Joe Ogutu. Image courtesy of Safaricom

Safaricom Lewa Marathon will be on 25th June. Registration starts tomorrow

Please login to join discussion

Recommended

jergens-shea-butter-moisturiser-hydralucence

Product Review: The Jergens Shea Butter Moisturiser

July 28, 2020
1.4k
Image from https://www.pinterest.com/pin/713398397195546729/

Lifestyle: Things To Consider When Buying Carpets

August 3, 2021
69

Popular Stories

  • Image from : https://bestlifeonline.com/fighting-with-spouse/

    An Uber Driver Ruined My Relationship

    183 shares
    Share 73 Tweet 46
  • Her Father-in-law Turned Out To Be A Predator

    21 shares
    Share 8 Tweet 5
  • Internship At Potentash – 1 Writer Position Starting In September

    70 shares
    Share 28 Tweet 18
  • Skincare: How To Do A DIY Vajacial At Home

    8487 shares
    Share 3394 Tweet 2121
  • 5 Stunning Outfits For Brunch

    5 shares
    Share 2 Tweet 1
Potentash

Potentash is an award-winning lifestyle blog. We publish lifestyle content that intersects with health, women, beauty, travel, business, relationships, finances and entertainment.

Categories

  • Ethics Statement
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2022. Potentash, In Partnership with Decima

  • Login
No Result
View All Result
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Fiction
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Skin + Beauty
  • Health
  • Relationships

Copyright © 2022. Potentash, In Partnership with Decima

Welcome Back!

Sign In with Linked In
OR

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In