Almost 66 percent of cancers are HIV and Aids related, cervical and breast are most common cancers affecting most Zimbabwean women. Cervical cancer is HIV and Aids related and affects most women and breast cancer is the second of the cancers affecting women. Efforts are underway to avail treatment of these cancers at most government hospitals and other health institutions in Zimbabwe.
The cancer burden in Zimbabwe is increasing with the disease now killing more people than Hiv and Aids, TB and Malaria combined, cervical cancer accounting for 20 percent of all the deaths. In Zimbabwe, on average, about 7000 cancer cases are being recorded each year and killing an average of 2000 patients. About 60 percent of new cancers being associated with Hiv and Aids. Cervical cancer is one of the major public health challenges facing women in Zimbabwe while prostate cancer is more common among men above 50 years. Cervical cancer is prevalent in Harare and Matebeleland while few cases are recorded in Midlands, Manicaland, Masvingo and Mashonaland central. Current estimates indicate that every year 2270 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 1451 die from the disease. Cervical cancer as the first most frequent cancer among women between 15 and 44 years of age. Cancer is also expected to increase due to Hiv and Aids and other infections, unhealthy lifestyle choices and ageing population. 30 percent of deaths can be avoided if cancer is detected early and treated.
The main cause of cervical cancer is the human papillomavirus (HPV) which is a sexually transmitted infection. Risk factors include having sex at an early age, multiple and concurrent sexual partners or having unprotected sex, harmful cultural practices such as insertion of herbs into the vagina, tobacco use and failure to receive cervical cancer screening and vaccination. In its early stages cervical cancer does not usually show any symptom, therefore women without any cancer symptoms should be screened through VIAC or Pap Smear. Symptoms for women who are still having periods include increased menstrual bleeding, abnormal virginal bleeding, and painless virginal bleeding. In post-menopausal women symptoms include bleeding virginally after sexual intercourse, abnormal foul smelling virginal bleeding and pain during sexual intercourse. Symptoms of advanced cervical cancer may include leaking of urine or faeces from the virgina, persistent offensive, watery foul smelling virginal discharge, which does not respond to treatment, constant fatigue and back and leg pain. Women should have regular cervical cancer screening, every two years if HIV negative and every year if HIV positive and if also coming from a high risk family.
Breast cancer is the second type of cancer that has affected most Zimbabwean women. The main cause of breast cancer is unknown; however there are certain factors which put women at a higher risk of developing breast cancer. Some of the risk factors include age, family history, diet high in fat, smoking and drinking alcohol and overweight and obesity. Some of the signs of breast cancer include changes on the breast such as shape, size and colour, dimpling on the breast skin or nipple, enlarged or darkened veins on the breast, unusual rash on the breast or on the nipple, lump or thickening in or on the breast and swelling on the upper arm nipple, upper arm or arm pit. Women are urged to have early detection and treatment and in the process this saves lives.
