Cervical cancer affects more and more women in the Republic of Moldova. Specialists' recommendations
The number of women diagnosed with cervical cancer is continuously increasing in the Republic of Moldova. According to the data of the Oncological Institute, every two days, a patient dies from this disease. In order for our women to be as informed as possible about the causes and symptoms of this disease, but also about the means of prevention, the European Cervical Cancer Prevention Week was held between January 16 and 22.
Ludmila Scripnic from Edineț was operated on her cervix, a few days ago, at the Oncological Institute. The 57-year-old says she has been a choreographer for more than three decades and eats healthy to stay in shape. Even so, she developed this disease, which was diagnosed by the district gynecologist and ultrasonography specialist.
"On October 1, I looked like an ideal woman with a perfect figure, but by the end of November, I already had a belly like that of a woman eight months pregnant. Professor Sofroni is a doctor from God, he operated on me. Now I feel very well, there are only some pains, like after any intervention", says Ludmila Scripnic, a patient of the Oncological Institute in the capital.
While some patients talk openly about their illness and admit that they did not go to the doctor in time, others agree to speak only under the protection of anonymity.
"I didn't feel bad, absolutely. I wouldn't have thought anything was detected. In August, I noticed some small bleeding and immediately ran to the doctor. After the investigations, they proposed an operation. Yesterday they operated on me and I feel very well. They told me that I applied on time. We hope everything will be fine", says another patient of the Oncological Institute in the capital, who wished to remain anonymous.
"I wasn't walking, I wasn't in pain. I went to the district and made an investigation. They sent me to Chisinau, to the polyclinic, to oncology. It was decided that surgery was needed. Now I feel good, I'm going home today", said Valentina Snegur, a patient of the Oncological Institute in the capital.
According to doctors, in most cases, cervical cancer is caused by infections with strains of the Human Papilloma Virus. It can be sexually transmitted and only affects women, while men are carriers.
"There are some watery discharges, which unfortunately the patients do not draw attention to. Later, they notice that blood discharges appear after a sexual act, irregularities in the menstrual cycle can occur," said Mircea Sofroni, head of the Oncology Department.
Specialists say that, in developed countries, at most six percent of women are detected when the disease is in an advanced stage. In the Republic of Moldova, however, half of the patients come to the doctor when the disease is in an advanced phase.
"We ask that women do a prophylactic check once every three years and, in addition to that, cytological screening for cervical cancer. This makes it possible to diagnose specifically in the early stages. Detecting the early stages in time makes it possible to treat cervical cancer patients, but especially with precancerous conditions", Mircea Sofroni also said.
Annually, more than 300 women from the Republic of Moldova are diagnosed with cervical cancer. Currently, on the records of the Oncological Institute, there are over 4,200 women diagnosed with cervical cancer, considered the fourth cause of cancer in women worldwide, and the main cause of mortality in women of active age - 15-45 years.
