1.
Cervical cancer is the second most
common cancer among South African
women

2.
SA Statistics as per National Cancer Registry (NCR) 2005
*
*

3.
What is cervical cancer?
The cervix is the lower part or mouth of
the uterus (womb).
It is one of the most common cancers
among South African women.
Cervical cancer does
not develop suddenly
There is a gradual
change from normal
cervical cells, through
various levels of
abnormality, to pre-
cancer lesions and
eventually to cancer
This whole process can
take many years

4.
What is a Pap smear?
A pap smear is a procedure that is done
to detect early cell changes in the cervix
to help prevent cancer.
By having pap smears regularly,
treatment can be given at an early stage
and so prevent the development of
advanced cervical cancer.
Although some
women may
experience
discomfort, a
pap smear is
usually quick
and painless

5.
If abnormal cells
are detected, you
will be referred for
treatment to
prevent
development of
cancer of the
cervix
How is a Pap smear done?
To allow for a visual inspection of the
vagina and cervix and to enable the easy
collection of cervical cells, a health
practitioner inserts an instrument called a
speculum into the vaginal canal.
Cervical cells are then collected with a
small wooden spatula or a small cervical
brush.
The cells are put onto a glass slide which is
then sent to a laboratory for examination
under a microscope.

6.
Are you at risk for cervical cancer?

7.
You have an increased risk for
cervical cancer if...
You've had persistent Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)
infections
HPV infection of the cervix is the primary risk factor for
cervical cancer and is associated with 70% of all cases

8.
What is HPV?
Human Papillomaviruses (HPVs) are a group of
more than 100 related viruses.
HPV types 16 418 are high risk.
HPVs are transmitted via skin-to-skin contact
and body fluids.
About 40 HPV types are sexually transmitted
and spread through genital contact.
Some HPVs, such as those that cause the
common warts that grow on hands and feet,
do not spread easily.
It has been
estimated that
HPV infection
accounts for
approximately 5%
of all cancers
worldwide

9.
What is HPV?
About 15 high-risk HPV types (also called
oncogenic or carcinogenic HPVs) have
been identified.
HPV vaccines prevents infection with
certain HPV types, such as those
associated with the development
of cervical cancer, genital warts, and
some less common cancers.
Speak to your medical practitioner for
more information about available
vaccines.
High risk HPV is
estimated to cause...
70% of cervical
and anal cancers
50% of vaginal, vulvar
and penile cancers
20% of head and neck
cancers

10.
You have an increased risk for
cervical cancer if...
You have a weakened immune system
Women with weakened immune systems - when diagnosed with
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) or when taking
immune-suppressing drugs for auto-immune diseases or after
organ transplants - are more likely to develop cervical cancer

11.
You have an increased risk for
cervical cancer if...
You or your partner had many sexual partners ... (or still have)
Many sexual partners increases your risk of HPV infections
Being sexually active from a very young age increases
exposure to many sexual partners
Women in same sex relationships should also be screened regularly
as HPV is transmitted through body fluids

12.
You have an increased risk for
cervical cancer if...
You haven't had a Pap smear in the past three or more years
Women who have never had a Pap smear, or who have not had one
for several years have an increased risk
Don’t forget... Pap smears are the single most effective cervical
cancer screening procedure to detect cervical cancer

13.
You have an increased risk for
cervical cancer if...
You're a smoker
Recent research established that smoking increases
cervical cancer risk by 50%

14.
You have an increased risk for
cervical cancer if...
You're between 18 and 40 years old (of child-bearing age)
Most high risk pre-cancerous lesions are found in women of
childbearing age
Multiple pregnancies, especially after 5 to 7 full-term pregnancies,
increase the risk of cervical cancer

15.
Just remember...
If you have a
number of risk
factors,
find out from your
health practitioner
or CANSA Care
Centre
what you can do to
reduce your risk
The more risk
factors you
have,
the greater
your likelihood
of developing
cervical cancer
It is possible
to develop
cervical cancer
without any of
the risk factors
being present

16.
Cervical screening
is available at
CANSA’s Mobile
Health Units and
Care Centres
country-wide

17.
What is CANSA doing to help?
We help to make sure that South
African women have access to
potentially life-saving Pap smears
Our Mobile Health Units travel to
remote areas throughout South Africa
to reach women who would otherwise
not have access to Pap smears

18.
One of CANSA’s mobile health units
creating awareness and doing free
screening in the community

19.
One of CANSA’s mobile health units
creating awareness and doing free
screening in the community

20.
In the past year, CANSA…
• Conducted 15 140 Pap smears
for cervical cancer
• Facilitated an additional
4 824 Pap smears in
partnership with the
Department of Health

21.
In the past year, CANSA…
• Supported 7 493 individual cancer
patients through our 110 support
groups and our 2 950 trained caregivers
• Supported an average of 3 045 patients
while receiving specialised support at
CANSA Care Centres and Oncology
Units
• Offered care and support services to
more than 45 000 people, including
individual emotional support
programmes, and made medical loan
equipment available to 4 278 people

22.
Join the fight against
cervical cancer...
Get screened regularly
Make a donation
Become a member
Sign up as a volunteer

23.
Help CANSA expand
its cancer screening programmes,
please consider making a donation
at any of our more than
30 CANSA Care Centres
country-wide

24.
Contact us…
Call us toll-free on 0800 22 66 22, or email info@cansa.org.za
Visit our website:
www.cansa.org.za
Please log on to our CANSA national Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/CANSA-The-Cancer-Association-of-South-Africa/
Follow us on CANSA’s Twitter page:
@CANSA - http://www.twitter.com/cansa
Also take a look at our CANSA Pinterest page:
CANSA - http://www.pinterest.com/cansa

25.
Toll-Free 0800 22 66 22
www.cansa.org.za