In recent years, the HPB has been launching campaigns every year to persuade women in Singapore to get vaccinated against HPV, or the Human Papillomavirus, a virus that causes Cervical Cancer.
Heightened concerns about cervical cancer are not unfounded, considering the magnitude of its impact.
Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer found in women and it affects up to 500,000 women worldwide each year. In Singapore, one woman dies of cervical cancer every five days and 500 new cases are detected each year.
Every woman stands an 80% chance of being infected with HPV at least once in their lifetime. The body is able to fight off most HPV infections, but any residual virus that cannot be removed can remain behind in the cervix and cause cancer.
Cervical cancer affects the cervix of the women where the cells in the cervix grow abnormally.
Any woman is susceptible to cervical cancer and the risk starts from the time the woman first has intercourse. You can evaluate your risk of getting cervical cancer via this online assessment. Generally, women who are regular smokers, have multiple sex partners and have had sexually transmitted disease(s) are at significantly high risk of developing cervical cancer.
Frighteningly, cervical cancer is a silent killer, in the sense that symptoms do not appear until the later stages when the disease is difficult or impossible to treat.
Symptoms of cervical cancer in later stages:
1. Abnormal bleeding between periods
2. Abnormal bleeding after menopause
3. Abnormal bleeding after intercourse
4. Foul smelling watery or bloody vaginal discharge
5. Lower abdominal pain during intercourse
But inspite of how dangerous this cancer seems, the good news is that it is the only cancer specific to women that can actually be prevented. The risk of developing cervical cancer can be lowered by up to 70% through HPV vaccination. This vaccination is available in all hospitals and most clinics island wide. The vaccination consists of three jabs done over a period of six months.
The vaccination is able to prevent the two main strains of HPV virus that can cause cancer and recurrent infections. However, it is unable to fight off any infections that are already within the body. Hence, it is important to go for regular pap smear as a detection test as early as possible, and even after vaccination.
There are two different types of vaccinations approved for use in Singapore, namely Merck’s Gardasil and GlaxoSmithKline’s Cervarix. The prices vary between SGD$450 - SGD$600 and can be paid via medisave.
According to the HPB, Gardasil aids with the prevention of cervical cancer, vulvar cancer, vaginal cancer and genital warts and is approved for use in girls and women aged 9 to 26 years old. Cervarix aids with general prevention of cervical cancer and is approved for use in girls and women aged 10 to 25 years old. If you are older than 26 years old, you will need to seek advice from your doctor to find out if the vaccination is still appropriate for you.
Studies indicate that protection for both vaccines will last at least five years. However, it is not known whether booster shots or additional shots will be required to reinforce the vaccination.
Do note that apart from age limit, there are also certain factors that determine whether you a vaccination is suitable for you, such as pregnancy, an infectious illness and allergy to yeast. So do find out from your doctor or polyclinic about your suitability for the vaccinations. Don't wait until it's too late!
Other sources:
http://www.healthxchange.com.sg/News/Pages/Cervical-cancer-jabs-covered-by-Medisave.aspx
http://www.natap.org/2011/newsUpdates/092911_03.htm
Heightened concerns about cervical cancer are not unfounded, considering the magnitude of its impact.
Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer found in women and it affects up to 500,000 women worldwide each year. In Singapore, one woman dies of cervical cancer every five days and 500 new cases are detected each year.
Every woman stands an 80% chance of being infected with HPV at least once in their lifetime. The body is able to fight off most HPV infections, but any residual virus that cannot be removed can remain behind in the cervix and cause cancer.
Any woman is susceptible to cervical cancer and the risk starts from the time the woman first has intercourse. You can evaluate your risk of getting cervical cancer via this online assessment. Generally, women who are regular smokers, have multiple sex partners and have had sexually transmitted disease(s) are at significantly high risk of developing cervical cancer.
Frighteningly, cervical cancer is a silent killer, in the sense that symptoms do not appear until the later stages when the disease is difficult or impossible to treat.
Symptoms of cervical cancer in later stages:
1. Abnormal bleeding between periods
2. Abnormal bleeding after menopause
3. Abnormal bleeding after intercourse
4. Foul smelling watery or bloody vaginal discharge
5. Lower abdominal pain during intercourse
But inspite of how dangerous this cancer seems, the good news is that it is the only cancer specific to women that can actually be prevented. The risk of developing cervical cancer can be lowered by up to 70% through HPV vaccination. This vaccination is available in all hospitals and most clinics island wide. The vaccination consists of three jabs done over a period of six months.
The vaccination is able to prevent the two main strains of HPV virus that can cause cancer and recurrent infections. However, it is unable to fight off any infections that are already within the body. Hence, it is important to go for regular pap smear as a detection test as early as possible, and even after vaccination.
There are two different types of vaccinations approved for use in Singapore, namely Merck’s Gardasil and GlaxoSmithKline’s Cervarix. The prices vary between SGD$450 - SGD$600 and can be paid via medisave.
According to the HPB, Gardasil aids with the prevention of cervical cancer, vulvar cancer, vaginal cancer and genital warts and is approved for use in girls and women aged 9 to 26 years old. Cervarix aids with general prevention of cervical cancer and is approved for use in girls and women aged 10 to 25 years old. If you are older than 26 years old, you will need to seek advice from your doctor to find out if the vaccination is still appropriate for you.
Studies indicate that protection for both vaccines will last at least five years. However, it is not known whether booster shots or additional shots will be required to reinforce the vaccination.
Do note that apart from age limit, there are also certain factors that determine whether you a vaccination is suitable for you, such as pregnancy, an infectious illness and allergy to yeast. So do find out from your doctor or polyclinic about your suitability for the vaccinations. Don't wait until it's too late!
Other sources:
http://www.healthxchange.com.sg/News/Pages/Cervical-cancer-jabs-covered-by-Medisave.aspx
http://www.natap.org/2011/newsUpdates/092911_03.htm
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