Doctor recommends regular screening of girls for cancer
NAN-HG-10
Screening
By Olasunkanmi Onifade
Abuja, Feb. 3, 2017(NAN) Dr Fred Achem, a gynaecologist with the Feropod Hospitals, Abuja, has recommended regular screening of girls between ages nine and 16 to detect early signs of cancer.
Achem gave the suggestion in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, ahead of the World Cancer Day scheduled for Feb. 4.
He said that screening of young girls between these ages would help to detect early signs of cancer cells which could be dangerous.
“There is the need to do all we can to vaccinate young girls who are not yet in their reproductive age, so that they develop antibodies to the effect of this virus.
“The idea is that for those who are not that lucky, it is a good practice to have a pap smear done every two years.”
Achem said that there were some cells in the bodies that would detect if cancer cells would come in later on, adding that this can be done mainly through a blood test.
“There are pre-cancerous states in the body that can be detected by blood checks before cancer sets in; these changes could indicate what part of the body would become cancerous later on.
“An example is the alpha-fetoprotein tests, if elevated, shows the risk of cancer of the liver.
“There are other proteins in the system which thus indicates that specific cancers can arise later on, hence the need for regular tests and screenings,” he said.
Achem said that the advantage of screening and blood tests would help to build immunity against all forms of cancers in the body.
He said the tests could also be seen in the blood contents when screened, and things like ovarian cancers could be treated early, stating that benign ovarian cancers, if treated early, could be removed.
“A lot of ovarian tumors are benign and not malignant.
“When they are removed, they are sent to the pathologist for confirmation, so, the earlier the better.”
The physician said that in girls who were found to be negative after the Pap smear, it is advised that the girls repeat the smear after two years.
Achem said that in older women, malignant cancer cells had been found to be uncontrollable in growth, hence the need to have them removed before larger problems set in.
“What the Pap smear does is to stain the vaginal cells, so as to study its appearance.
“When they appear normal, then, the Pap smear is negative; if not, if it is positive, it means that there are traces of cancer in the linings of the vaginal”.
The doctor said that parents should have the culture of creating awareness among their wards and children, stating that early screening for cancer is the key to surviving all forms of cancers. (NAN)
OEO/FLP/MST
Edited by Folorunso Poroye/Muhammad Suleiman Tola