Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women between 15-45 years of age and the third leading cause of death worldwide.Over 99% of cervical cancer cases are linked to genital infection with Human Papillomavirus (HPV).The Health Authority-Abu Dhabi(HAAD) recommends:-
- HPV vaccination for females, from the age of 15 years, once in a lifetime
- Papsmear screening for women ages of 25 – 49 years, every three years and 50-65 years every five years and yearly for the immune-compromised.
Almost 100 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year in UAE, and as per the statistics almost 30 of these women will die, which can be prevented, however, because cervical cancer can be cured if it is detected at its earliest stage.
Since women do not report any noticeable symptoms until after cancer has invaded the surrounding organs or spread to the lungs, detecting the virus early is crucial. A pap smear check-up will help you to detect any sign of unusual cell growth and early stages of cervical cancer can be successfully cured with minimal side effects after taking the necessary treatment.
Pap Smear Test Procedure
A doctor will take a small sample of cells from a woman??s cervix.It will be then sent to a laboratory for checking whether any abnormalities are present in the sample taken.
??Smear, Don??t Fear??
A new health campaign, ??Smear, Don??t Fear??, led by Zulekha Hospitals, has been launched to educate women about the symptoms, risks and prevention of cervical cancer,the second most common cancer affecting hundreds of thousands worldwide.
From now until 31st August 2015, women can take advantage of free specialist consultations and Pap tests at Zulekha Hospitals in Dubai and Sharjah.Register for your free consultation and test at you.zulekhahospitals.com. Visit the website for more details.