Statistics on cervical cancer in Malaysia alarming

PETALING JAYA: Cervical cancer is ranked as the fourth most common cancer affecting women in Malaysia, with 1,740 cases in 2020 of whom 991 or 57% succumbed to the disease, according to the Global Cancer Observatory (GCO).

The GCO estimated that over 12 million women in Malaysia aged 15 and above are at risk of developing cervical cancer.

Another think tank, the HPV Information Centre, said it is the second most frequent cancer among Malaysian women between the ages of 15 and 44.

It is also the fourth most common cancer in women globally, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), after an estimated 604,000 new cases were diagnosed worldwide in 2020.

“About 90% of the 342,000 deaths caused by cervical cancer occurred in low- and middle-income countries.

“The highest rates of cervical cancer incidence and mortality are in sub-Saharan Africa, Central America and South-East Asia.

“Regional differences in the cervical cancer burden are related to inequalities in access to vaccination, screening and treatment services,” WHO said.

Risk factors to contracting cervical cancers include the prevalence of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), sex, gender biases and poverty, the world body added.

Women living with HIV are six times more likely to develop cervical cancer compared with the general population, and an estimated 5% of all cervical cancer cases are attributable to HIV.

“The contribution of HIV to cervical cancer disproportionately affects younger women, and as a result, 20% of children who lose their mother to cancer do so due to cervical cancer,” WHO added.

Another virus that contributes to this cancer is the human papillomavirus (HPV) — 88.7% of invasive cervical cancers are attributed to HPVs 16 or 18, said the HPV Information Centre.

“About 1.0% of women in the general population are estimated to harbour a cervical HPV-16/18 infection at a given time,” it said.

WHO recommends HPV vaccination at the age nine to 14, to prevent HPV infection, cervical cancer and other HPV-related cancers.

It also recommends screening every five to 10 years from the age 30 for women to detect cervical disease, which when treated, also prevents cervical cancer.

“At any age with symptoms or concerns, early detection followed by prompt quality treatment can cure cervical cancer,” WHO said.

“Cervical cancer can be cured if diagnosed and treated at an early stage of disease.

“Recognising symptoms and seeking medical advice to address any concerns is a critical step,” it added.