The Chief Medical Director, University of Benin
Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Prof. Michael Ibadin, on Wednesday, said the hospital
would acquire a machine that cures cervical cancer.
Making the disclosure during the maiden edition of
UBTH public lecture series in Benin entitled: “The Burden of Cancer of the
Cervix”, Ibadin said that the N100-million cancer therapy machine would provide
100 per cent cure for cancer of the cervix.
He said the machine would be acquired in the next
few months.
He added that “the outlook of cancer cases is not
as hopeless as before. There are now possible cure for certain cancers.”
Prof. Etedafe Gharoro, a Consultant Gynaecology
Oncologist in UBTH, said cancer of the cervix is caused by a Human Papilloma
Virus (HPV).
Gharoro said that globally, about 530,000 new cases
of cervical cancers were identified each year with 275,000 deaths per year.
“Approximately, 85 per cent of the deaths occur in
low and middle income countries with Nigeria accounting for more than 10 per cent.
“From January 1993 to December 1998, cervical
cancer made up 74. 6 per cent of all malignant gynaecological cancer admissions
in UBTH,” Gharoro said.
He listed risk factors of the disease to include
multiple s*xual partners, having s*x with a male partner who is not circumcised
and young age at first intercourse.
Other risk factors are non-penetrative s*xual
contact, poor nutrient status, smoking, having many children and advanced age.
The consultant noted that there were no early
symptoms for the disease, stressing that by the time signs were noticed, the
disease had already been established.
He said women experiencing irregular vaginal
bleeding, post-menopausal bleeding and lower abdominal pains should seek
medical care as they could be signs of cervical cancer.
Gharoro said that cervical cancer screening and use
of HPV vaccine were necessary to reduce the spread of the disease.
He also called for effective advocacy and
establishment of a functioning national cancer registry and surgical treatment
to ensure prevention of the disease.
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