Cervical cancer is said to be the number one cause of cancer deaths in SA women, despite advances in early detection and prevention.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO, cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women globally with more than 600 000 new cases and about 350 000 deaths in 2022.

The research reveals that a DNA Methylation test could help detect cervical cancer earlier and reduce the number of deaths.

Meanwhile, the HPV information center says current estimates indicate that every year more than 10 000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer, and more than 5 000 die from the disease.

Science has once more proven to make life easier.

Dr Robyn Adams, from the Stellenbosch University Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology researched on how cervical cancer can be prevented. The research aimed at saving women’s lives.

“At the moment in SA and around the world, we as a form of cervical cancer screening, we encourage women to go for pap smears.

So the pap smears will detect abnormal cervical cells, so it already shows you when there is abnormalities right. With the DNA test it will tell you if you have the virus, and if you test positive for certain viruses you will require immediate treatment, if not you require triage.

With the DNA methylation test we aim to detect all of that much earlier on the disease process so that if we can detect, we can send the appropriate women for follow ups and treatment, in order to prevent cervical cancer from eventually developing.”

The test is not yet available in healthcare settings. Adams says it is still being used for research purposes as more research still needs to be conducted, and with other factors like affordability being considered.

Implementation will take a good 10 years.

--SABC--