The Women’s Commissioner (WOCOM) of the University of Ghana Nursing and Midwifery Students Association (UGHANMSA), Paulina Nyarko, has debunked the misconception that cervical cancer affects only older women.
Speaking on Campus Exclusive, she explained that anyone who is sexually active may be at risk of cervical cancer, particularly when engaging in unprotected sexual activities.
“Mostly, people say cervical cancer is an issue for older women, which is not true. If you consider how the disease is transmitted through sexual activity, it is actually young people who are more sexually active. The reason people think it affects only older women is that the signs and symptoms do not manifest during the youthful years. They usually appear later in life,” she stated.
Miss Nyarko further explained that individuals can carry the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) for several years without showing any symptoms.
“Anybody who is sexually active can contract HPV. You can live with the virus for five to ten years without any signs or symptoms, which is why this myth needs to be debunked. Cervical cancer can affect anyone as long as they are sexually active,” she added.
She also described cervical cancer as a major public health concern among women, noting that it is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women and yet one of the most preventable.
“It is a major public health issue because it is one of the most preventable cancers among women. Cervical cancer is caused by the Human Papillomavirus, which is transmitted from an infected person to another. The challenge is that the virus does not show symptoms in its early stages,” she explained.
She urged the youth to either consider safe methods while engaging in sexual activities or abstain from the act.
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Story by Oliver Arthur Acorlor| univers.ug.edu.gh
Edited by Deborah Owusu
