Doctor promotes vaccination against cervical cancer

By Bae Ji-sook

Many women regularly look into mirrors, perhaps several times a day, to see if they look fine, pretty and most of all, healthy.

However, not so many take a real effort in taking care of their reproductive organs such as uterus, ovaries and others, vaguely assuming their youth would keep them healthy. However, the reality is harsh.

The number of women diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2007 marked 3,616, according to the National Cancer Center. Though the figure has dropped _ it marked 4,443 in 1999_ the number still comes as a shock to people who firmly believe cervical cancer is for women from “underdeveloped countries.” Moreover, some reports suggest that the number of women less than 35 years old detected with adenocarcinoma, a very primary stage of cervical cancer, has nearly doubled in the past decade.

Doctors warn that cervical cancer can be damaging to both body and soul.

Many of the patients get their uterus removed when diagnosed with such cancer, which leaves them with an immense sense of loss and pain.

“The uterus represents femininity, which makes them different from men. Many women feel less feminine after the removal,” said Prof. Kim Young-tak of Asan Medical Center to The Korea Times. “So it is extremely important for early screening and treatment, to keep their uterus,” he added.

The increasing number of diagnosis among the younger population is due to the fact that more women experience sexual intercourse earlier than their previous generations. The cervical cancer is known to be caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), which in most cases is transmitted through sexual contact. Therefore, the earlier one is exposed to sexual activities, the higher the chances are of infection.

“In many cases, the virus infection is like a light cold. About 80 percent of sexually active women get infected in their lifetime but light symptoms pass away. Still, those who are constantly exposed to the virus should watch out because the infection could develop into cancer,” Kim said.

Luckily cervical cancer is pretty much preventable. It is the only cancer that has a vaccine for prevention. Currently two kinds of vaccines, notably effective on women who have started their sexual activities to those well over 55, are available at clinics and hospitals nationwide.

Doctors say it is the best to get the inoculation before one’s first sexual intercourse.

Though the vaccine has opened a new era to women, many are still prejudiced against women who visit their gynecologists. “Even in case of cervical cancer, women are busy concealing it because they fear accusation about their sex lives. People think getting sexually transmitted disease as a sign of sexual promiscuity. They fear to visit their gynecologists because they fear that even visiting the doctors imply something is sexually wrong,” he said.

Kim, who is also the director of scientific committee at the Korean Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, is holding a “purple ribbon” campaign with the academia to promote the prevention of cervical cancer. Gynecologists designated the third week of May as Cervical Cancer prevention week, distributing purple ribbons to women to encourage them to receive regular checkups on their uterus and take the preventative vaccines.

“The examination procedure is so simple but you can actually prevent a cancer for the rest of your life!” he said.