Cervical cancer: understanding the disease that killed Miss Uruguay

Sherika de Armas has died at just 26 years old after a two-year battle with cervical cancer

Miss Uruguay Sherika de Armas, 26, died last Sunday (10/15) due to cervical cancer. The model fought a two-year battle with the disease, but she did not survive.

After participating in Miss World 2015, Sherika De Armas continued to work as a model. She also sold her products for personal care, makeup and hair through her brand Shey De Armas Beauty Studio. At the same time, De Armas did volunteer work at an organization that helps children with cancer.

Cervical cancer

According to Dr. Adriana Campaner, master and doctor of tocogynecology and associate professor at the Faculty of Medical Sciences of Santa Casa de SP, cervical cancer is the third most common cancer in women in Brazil. “This cancer is caused by a virus called HPV, usually transmitted through sexual activity. It affects both the cervix and the anal region,” she explains.

Dr. Valentino Magno, a gynecologist and obstetrician and associate professor at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), explains that HPV is an extremely common sexually transmitted virus. “It is estimated that 80% of the world’s population, including men and women, comes into contact with this virus. This does not mean that harm will occur, as, in most cases, it is a self-limiting infection. in other words, I expose myself to the virus when I come into contact with it during sexual intercourse, and then it eliminates itself”, reveals the doctor.

When the virus is not eliminated and perpetuates itself in the body, it generates precancerous lesions. At this stage the disease does not cause symptoms, experts explain. When the patient shows changes, the tumor is already in an advanced stage. In these cases, the following warning signs are common:

• Pelvic pain;
• Spontaneous vaginal bleeding;
• Bleeding during sexual intercourse;
• Fetid discharge;
• Weight loss.

Prevention

Because cervical cancer has no symptoms, there are two ways to prevent it, says Dr. Adriana:

1. Prevent people from contracting HPV: they should advise them to use condoms and get the HPV vaccine. If the person has already had HPV, they should get a Pap test and see if they have developed lesions that need to be treated.
2. The vaccine: the ideal is to get the vaccine before starting to have sexual intercourse. This is because, by having the vaccine, you do not contract HPV, and in this way cancer does not develop.

It is worth noting that only screening tests can identify precancerous lesions. In this way, by diagnosing the lesions, it is possible to treat them and prevent the onset of cancer. “This is why the preventive examination of the cervix, i.e. the Pap test, is so important”, underlines Dr. Valentino.

The doctor emphasizes that cervical cancer is a preventable disease, because it has pre-invasive stages, in a visible organ, because it is possible to examine it with a gynecological examination, there is a screening examination, which is quite effective in terms of prevention point of view and, moreover, there is a vaccine against the disease. “It is therefore a cancer that should no longer exist, which could be eradicated,” he says.

For the specialist, the eradication of cervical cancer is a near prospect for developed countries, but a distant one for Brazil. “We continue to have very low vaccination coverage, even for the population who stays at the health center free of charge, given by the Ministry of Health. Furthermore, the population must also be careful about having follow-up tests, because in this way we can prevent cancer”, he underlines .

Importance of the vaccine

According to the UFRGS associate professor, the vaccine can prevent cervical cancer in up to 90% of cases. “There is no other cancer that can be prevented by a vaccine like the HPV vaccine. The HPV vaccine prevents cancers of the cervix, vulva, vagina and anal canal, which are all infections caused by the same virus,” he says.

Remember that the vaccine is available free of charge from 9 to 14 years old for boys and girls and from 9 to 45 years old for those who are immunosuppressed. In the private network it is recommended for men and women aged 9 to 45.

Source: Terra

Ben

Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.