Cervical cancer deaths rising in SL - ministry

Nadira Gunatilleke

At least two women die in Sri Lanka every three days due to cervical cancer. Married women above the age of 40 are at a greater risk. Cervical cancer is the second commonest cancer among Sri Lankan women, a Health Ministry spokesman said.

The spokesman said over 1,000 Sri Lankan women contract cervical cancer annually. “Most cases are detected at the last stages of the disease when it is incurable. Cervical cancer can be treated and completely cured if diagnosed early. All married women should undergo pap smear tests or coloposcopy at least once a year to prevent the disease. HPV vaccine can prevent cervical cancer,” he said. The cause for the disease is Human Papiloma Virus (HPV). There are no early symptoms with this disease, the spokesman said.

The Health Ministry will set up two coloposcopy units in Colombo (Cancer Early Detection Centre, Narahenpita) and Jaffna (attached to Jaffna General Hospital) to detect cervical cancer early.

The units will be provided by WHO and the International Cancer Research Institute. Over 700 Suwanaari clinics set up by the Health Ministry countrywide offer all cervical cancer prevention tests and vaccines free of charge, the spokesman said.