Tell Her About Cervical Cancer

Cape Town, South Africa – 29 October 2007 - An important cervical cancer awareness website was launched in Ireland in May this year in response to Ireland’s high cervical cancer rate and in an effort to address the lack of information available about the disease. The website expanded to an international level in July to disseminate information even further a field.

The website also provides information on the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is the virus that causes cervical cancer. The virus itself is extremely common and is not very virulent. Up to 80% of all women will be infected with HPV at some point in their lives, of those women, 90% will recover with the aid of their own immune systems and they will never know that they were infected at all. HPV has virtually no symptoms. That is why it is so difficult to diagnose and why regular smears are so important, because only regular smears will detect it and any resulting abnormal cells.

In Ireland, where it all began, there are currently 2900 women living with cervical cancer and that number is rising, as it is estimated that at least 180 will be diagnosed this year alone. Another number to consider is 73, that is how many women will die from cervical cancer in Ireland this year. This tiny little island has one of the highest rates of cervical cancer in all of Europe.

After breast cancer, cervical cancer is the second biggest cancer killer among women aged 15 – 44. Every day 40 women die from cervical cancer, this figure is decreasing however, as early detection is on the rise. 40% of the women who do have cervical cancer are aged 35 – 54 and were probably exposed to the HPV when they were around 16 – 25 years of age.

Tell Her provides information on what exactly cervical cancer is, what causes it and some statistics regarding who is most commonly affected by it, how it is diagnosed, its symptoms as well as how it is described and treated. In addition to information on cervical cancer it also provides information on the human papillomavirus such as who gets infected by it, symptoms, detection and prevention as well as a look at the structure of abnormal cells, some other consequences of HPV, what you can do today to ensure that you’re looking after yourself and someone you love, FAQs and a section on some truths and myths surrounding cervical cancer.

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