KUCHING: Sarawak is No. 1 for the wrong reason — in the matter of cervical cancer, that is.Apparently, the state has the highest prevalence of cervical cancer in the country.
Sarawak General Hospital Obstetrics and Gynaecology Registrar Dr Abigail Jerip said there were 12.1 incidences of cervical cancer per 100,000 in Sarawak. Kelantan showed the lowest rate at 3.8 incidences per 100,000.
She attributed the high rate of the disease mainly to accessibility issues faced by the rural folk in the state as well as a lack of awareness.
“Cervical cancer is actually the second most common cancer (after breast cancer) among Sarawakian females,” she told New Sarawak Tribune, yesterday.
The sad fact is that cervical cancer is 90 percent preventable if proper and regular screenings are conducted, said Dr Abigail, who is the founder of Pink & Teal EmpowHer, an awareness non-governmental organisation involved in screening rural women for breast and gynaecological cancer.
She noted that some developed countries had seen a drop in cervical cancer rates following medical advancements. On the other hand, the prevalence of the disease has increased in Sarawak.
“Countries such as USA and UK have experienced a 48 percent reduction of cervical cancer rate after introducing their PAP smear programme in the mid 1980s. However, in Sarawak it is on the rise.
“The cervical cancer screening programme has been in effect for about 30 years in Malaysia, and our uptake is only 30 percent – meaning only 30 percent of women go for their cervical cancer screenings,” Dr Abigail said.
In more developed countries with intensive screening programmes, cervical cancer is usually discovered in the early first and second stages.
Meanwhile, in Malaysia, diagnosis often only occurs in the late third and fourth stages.
“Why? Because women only come in when there is bleeding.
“By the late stages, survivability has dropped to about 40 percent or less, compared to 90 percent if found in the first stage,” she said.
Dr Abigail stressed that adequate coverage and reliable follow-up was key to reducing cervical cancer rates and urged women to get screened regularly.
On Pink & Teal EmpowHer, she said it was a charitable non-governmental organisation (NGO) which focused on screening and prevention of breast and cervical cancers among Sarawak’s rural women.
The NGO conducts cervical, ovarian, uterine, and breast cancer screening, treatment and follow-up consultation.
“Since being founded in June last year, we have screened 800 women,” revealed Dr Abigail.
It also brings in ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialists and dentists to serve the rural community while also working together with other NGOs to conduct computer and English literary programmes for rural children.
