Beating cervical cancer

Posted on 2 June 2015

New strides in the detection, treatment and prevention of cervical cancer mean that it can be beaten. Here, a survivor tells her story and we look at the potential of the HPV vaccine.

Meg Hamilton: ‘I had no idea that I had cervical cancer.’
‘The only reason I went to a gynaecologist originally was because a friend and I had recently debated the value of a regular checkup. I had never been to the gynae, through the birth of my two children or since, and quite honestly the idea of going to one still wasn’t high on my to-do list. However, I was experiencing an abnormal period, which was enough for me to realise that at my age of 45, a visit to gynae was inevitable. My first visit to Dr Malena du Toit at Mediclinic Louis Leipoldt was less alarming than I’d expected. The warmth and compassion was tangible and my fear of the dreaded procedure was soon laid to rest. However, it was in this first examination that the dreaded C-word raised its abnormally celled head,’ she recalls.

‘My reaction to hearing I had cancer was muted but my emotions swung like a pendulum. I was grateful that my guiding star had led me to the gynae when the cancer was still only in stage one, but I was terrified that I wasn’t going to see my children grow old. My family’s support was vital.

‘As time progressed I realised I wasn’t going to die and the operation to remove part of the cervix and the uterus with the associated lymph nodes was fairly common amongst non-cancer patients as well. I didn’t need any chemo or radiation as the cancer was all removed successfully. My treatment would mean regular visits to the gynae to view pictures of my insides but that was all. It’s been almost three years since I said goodbye to my uterus and, apart from the occasional cyst growing on my ovary, my health is generally good. I’ve learnt to live each day to the fullest.’

The HPV vaccine
Not only can cervical cancer be beaten but there have also been major strides in the prevention of the disease with the advent of an HPV vaccine. According to the National Cancer Institute, virtually all cervical cancers are caused by HPV (human papillomavirus) infections, which are transmitted through sexual intercourse. ‘Two different vaccines, Gardisal and Cevarix, are available worldwide,’ says Dr du Toit. Available in SA since 2008, HPV vaccination has been rolled out in public schools for girls in grade 4 as part of the country’s school-based immunisation programme. ‘Girls aged 9-12 not attending public schools can get a script for the vaccination from any doctor and buy the vaccine from any pharmacy,’ says Dr Haynes van der Merwe, a senior specialist at the Unit for Gynaecological Oncology at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Stellenbosch who’s also a session gynaecologist at Mediclinic Paarl. ‘It’s preferably given before sexual debut, but catch-up vaccination is recommended until the age of about 26.’

‘Immunisation involves an injection of 0,5ml vaccine,’ explains Dr du Toit. ‘Three injections are administered over a six-month period. Clinical trials have shown that both vaccines are extremely effective. Within a month after completing the three-dose series, 99% of recipients will have an antibody response.’

‘The current data shows the vaccine to be highly effective in preventing precursor lesions of the cervix and it’s therefore suggested that it would most likely also prevent cervical cancer,’ says Dr van der Merwe. ‘The evidence to prove prevention of cervical cancer will only be available many years from now though, because it’s a vaccine given to young girls to prevent a disease of later adulthood.’

The information provided in this article was correct at the time of publishing. At Mediclinic we endeavour to provide our patients and readers with accurate and reliable information, which is why we continually review and update our content. However, due to the dynamic nature of clinical information and medicine, some information may from time to time become outdated prior to revision.