By Zainon Talip
MIRI : The ‘It’s Your Life, Why Take a Chance’ campaign is calling for Malaysian women to take action by protecting themselves against cervical cancer.
The campaign which is organised by the National Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM) together with Merck Sharp &Dohme (Malaysia) SdnBhd (MSD) aims to equip women with knowledge on cervical cancer so that they are educated on this preventable cancer which will then allow them to take charge of their health.
While predominantly reaching out to women, the ‘It’s Your Life, Why Take a Chance’ campaign also targets the male population to get involved and support the women in their lives in the fight against cervical cancer.
Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Malaya, Professor Dr JamiyahBinti Hassan said, in Malaysia, cervical cancer is among the top three most common cancers and the fifth cause of cancer deaths among women.
“About 2,145 women in the country are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 621 of them die from the disease every year, based on estimates from 2012.
“Various strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV), a common sexually transmitted infection that affects one in two sexually active persons, play a role in causing most cervical cancer cases.
“About six new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed in Malaysian women every day and tragically, nearly two women die from this largely preventable disease daily.
“Women need to come forward for Pap smear screenings and HPV vaccination as these are two key measures for cervical cancer prevention. This is a cancer which can be prevented, hence why would we take a chance with life,” she said.
Meanwhile, President, National Cancer Society Malaysia, Dr SaunthariSomasundaram said, there are over 100 different types of HPV, although not all of them cause health problems, she said.
However, HPV types 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52 and 58 cause 90% of all cervical cancers. HPV types 52 and 58 are among the most common types found in Malaysian women2.
“In Malaysia, cervical cancer is more prevalent than most people realise as there is a reluctance to talk about the disease among sufferers and their families. Many Malaysians are unaware that cervical cancer can be prevented.
“Most people also do not realise whether they have been infected by HPV, as there are no signs or symptoms. Thus, it is of utmost importance that we continue education on prevention, so that our women can be better informed on the prevention measures for cervical cancer and subsequently take charge of their health.
“Many women prioritise others in their lives and tend to neglect themselves. We need to be proactive in taking measures to protect ourselves so that we can continue being pillars of strength for our loved ones,” he said.
Regular Pap smear tests and HPV vaccination go hand in hand in providing a shield against cervical cancer, he said.
Women are encouraged to consult their healthcare providers to find out more on how they can best protect themselves against the disease.
As most Malaysians are social and mobile-centric users who spend most of their time searching for and consuming content online, the ‘It’s Your Life, Why Take a Chance’ campaign website (www.itsyourlife.net) and Facebook page have been set up to serve as a resource centre for the public to learn more about cervical cancer.
These platforms were developed to provide interesting and engaging content on how women can protect themselves from the disease.
