Women aged between 25 and 64 must do the Babes-Papanicolau test once in two years so as to detect cervical cancer at an incipient stage. Veronica Ciobanu, oncologist-gynecologist at the Chisinau Oncology Institute, said cancer can appear as a result of untreated genital infections and the infection with the Human Papillomavirus, IPN reports.
Untreated erosion can also lead to cervical cancer. “The Babes-Papanicolau test enables to identify atypical cells of the cervix. The disease can be prevented if the cells are at the simple erosion or pre-cancer stage. The cervical cancer has different stages. At the incipient stage, the treatment is invasive, depending on age, pathology, etc. At advanced stages, there is used triple oncologic treatment - surgical, radiotherapeutical or chemotherapeutical,” said the doctor.
The Human Papillomavirus is transmitted sexually. Sometimes it can disappear by itself, if the person has increased immunity. Among the main risk factors leading to cervical cancer are the precocious start of the sexual life, frequent change of partners and genital infections that are not treated on time. “The women in Moldova are insufficiently informed. If they knew more about the prevention of cervical cancer, they would do tests regularly,” stated Valentina Ciobanu.
The warts are also caused by the Human Papillomavirus and their appearance on the genital organs is a reason for concern. The person must obligatorily see a doctor. The screening programs can prevent up to 80% of the cases of cervical cancer. The cost of the cytological test is fully covered from the health insurance funds and is done in all the primary medical institutions of the country.
There is also a vaccine for preventing the disease, but it is administered only to virgin girls. Several years ago, the vaccine was provided free by the Health Ministry. Currently, it is done for money, in private immunization offices.
About 300-350 new cases of cervical cancer are recorded annually in Moldova. Because of late detection, the disease causes the death of 180 women yearly. It can develop during 10-15 years.
