Dr. Tay Sun Kuie - Cervical Cancer

Cover design: Benson Tan

Copyright 1996 Times Editions Private Limited

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National Library Board Singapore Cataloguing in Publication Data

Tay, Sun Kuie, 1954

Cervical cancer : its causes and prevention / Tay Sun Kuie. Singapore : Marshall Cavendish Editions, 2009.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references.

eISBN-13 : 978 981 4484 46 6

1. Cervix uteri Cancer Diagnosis. 2. Cervix uteri Cancer Prevention.

3. Cervix uteri Cancer Treatment. I. Title.

RC280.U8

616.99466 -- dc22OCN313955288

Printed in Singapore by Fabulous Printers Pte Ltd

Dedicated to Mdm Fong Yuk Wah

The uterine cervix, or neck of the womb, is a small organ, yet it is the origin of one of the most common cancers in women. Worldwide, nearly half a million women are diagnosed with the disease every year. This occurs despite a much-publicised screening programme. Evidently, something is wrong somewhere.

The answer, apparently, lies in the large number of women who are at risk of cancer, but fail to be screened. Several reasons have been suggested, one of which is a misunderstanding or misconception about the nature and purpose of screening. Then there are other women who have been screened, but who are unable to understand their diagnosis of cervical pre-cancer. The confusion between cervical pre-cancer and cancer itself has created tremendous anxiety and emotional trauma among these women, much of which is unwarranted.

This book contains the essential information, and historical and up-to-date issues of interest, on cervical pre-cancer and cancer. It also contains the answers to the most common and relevant questions asked about cervical cancer and cancer prevention. The elaboration on some aspects of the disease is to allow a better understanding of it and to show recent research development in the various areas. Attempts are made to explain the disease in plain language but the basic medical terms have been retained to maintain accuracy and improve communication between lay persons and their doctors. The medical terminology is explained in the text and summarised in the glossary.

I hope this book will help disseminate information on cervical cancer and encourage more women to utilise the screening facilities available. It should also alleviate some of the fear and anxiety of those who have discovered any abnormality during a screening test. The information provided here has been designed to supplement the discussion between the patient and her doctor, and form a ready reference for the patient and her family.

The book should also be useful to doctors, medical nurses and health workers who deal with cervical cancer screening. It is hoped that its contents will abolish the information gap and language barrier between health workers and their patients.

Dr Tay Sun Kuie, 1996

Despite being a most preventable human cancer, cervical cancer remains one of the most common cancers in women, particularly among women in the developing nations where it ranks either the first or second among the most common cancers. Of all the new cases of cervical cancer diagnosed yearly, 54 per cent occurs in Asia.

For 80 years, the most effective measure in reducing the incidence and death from cervical cancer has been the mass screening of adult women for a pre-cancerous lesion on the cervix. Complete treatment of cervical pre-cancers prevents development of cervical cancer. This forms the core content of the first edition of this book.

Research in medical science has led to several significant advances in the understanding of the cause and new preventive measures of cervical cancer since the publication of the first edition of the book 10 years ago. Most importantly, the recent development of an anti-cancer vaccine is not only a paradigm shift in prevention of cervical cancer but also, for the first time in medical history, in prevention of a significant proportion of cervical pre-cancerous lesions. The vaccines materialise scientists dream of a primary method of preventing a common deadly cancer. Also, as the vaccines are most cost-effectively administered when given to adolescent girls, they empower parents to take active steps to protect their daughters from developing cervical cancers.

In this new edition, the existing chapters are updated to cover the recent developments in medical research and discoveries, and new chapters are added to bring readers attention to the anti-cancer vaccines. The section on strategies for prevention of cervical cancer is revamped to outline the current thoughts and practice in the field of fighting against cervical cancer. This book aims to inform readers adequately to assist them in reaching an optimal option in adopting their strategy in prevention of cervical cancer.