Cervical cancer awareness: Dr Jody-Ann Jarrett breaks down the facts

Every January, the world comes together to raise awareness about cervical cancer – its risks, prevention, and the importance of early detection. As Cervical Cancer Awareness Month comes to a close in just two days, Dr Jody-Ann Jarrett, obstetrician and gynaecologist, believes there is still much work to be done in raising awareness and has some advice that she hopes will spark a national conversation and encourage more women to take proactive steps in their health.

During an interview with Lifestyle on Monday, she took the time to break down the disease.

“Cervical cancer is a cancer that occurs at the neck of the womb, at the area called the cervix. So the importance of being aware, or for us to promote cervical cancer awareness, is because even though it is one of the top five cancers that affects women in the world, it is one of the most preventable cancers there is; and there are a number of ways that it can be prevented,” Dr Jarrett said.

As a trained practitioner who has examined many women diagnosed with the disease, Dr Jarrett believes that public education campaigns remain one of the most effective methods for raising awareness about cervical cancer.

“One of the ways is by, of course, education – informing patients on what they need to do. And one of the main things they do to prevent the disease, especially in the younger population, is to give the cervical cancer vaccine. This Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which we’re looking to make a part of routine vaccination for children, especially young girls, starting from age nine up to age 26, but the vaccine has also been shown to be beneficial to patients outside of this age range.”

She added, “So even up to the age of 49 and 50, patients are still getting cervical cancer vaccines done. Another way is by early detection, which is encouraged by doing our pap smears – a screening test. So, a lot of people are afraid of doing the pap smears, but it really isn’t as dramatic or traumatic as most people make it out to be.”

Although Pap smears can be uncomfortable procedures, Dr Jarrett says it’s really just a swab of the cervix, which is then placed on a slide and sent to a lab to check for any early changes in the cells.

“And what happens is that if you have any early changes in the cells, these can be treated, so you do a more in depth procedure to look at the cervix and treat any cells that are abnormal there– before they turn to cancer.”

Two common myths that Dr Jarrett would like to bust are that cervical cancer is hereditary and that it is not preventable.

“The main one is that it’s not preventable. Which is not true, as it is the number one preventable cancer, because of the vaccine and early detection with pap smears. Another thing is that, people think that as with other cancers, cervical cancer is hereditary, so if your mother had it or a family member had it, then you may get it. That’s not the case. Cervical cancer is not hereditary, as we all know, because the causative agent is usually the HPV virus,” she said.

Dr Jarrett advises women to watch for symptoms of cervical cancer, including persistent abnormal vaginal discharge or odour, spotting or bleeding after sexual intercourse, and persistent vaginal itching.

“If you have any of those symptoms feel free to approach your doctor as it’s very important to get checked to treat before it becomes cancer,” she said.

ainsworth.morris@gleanerjm.com

1. Stop smoking: Simple lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking, can help lower your risk of cervical cancer, as smoking increases the risk of most cancers.

2. Eat a healthy diet and exercise, as this helps keep your immune system in optimal working condition to fight against the HPV virus.

3.Decrease the number of sexual partners you have. HPV is a sexually transmitted virus, so reducing the number of sexual partners lowers exposure and, in turn, reduces the risk of cervical cancer.

4. Have regular Pap smears done. While Pap smears may be uncomfortable, they should not be painful. Making routine doctor visits a part of your self-care routine is essential and ensures you can be there to take care of your loved ones.

5. Seek consultations. It’s important not to be afraid to consult a gynaecologist for early detection and treatment.