Nurse, a member of the Lacks family, has made important efforts for the prevention of cervical cancer, a disease for which Henrietta Lacks died in 1951.
For this reason, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, appointed her and members of her family, WHO Goodwill Ambassadors the elimination this condition that affects women worldwide, and which is the fourth most common type of cancer women, whose deaths amounted to 342,000 cases in 2020.
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Upon receiving this recognition, Victoria said: «As a nurse, I feel deeply moved by accepting this honor today to serve as an ambassador of goodwill of the World Health Organization for the elimination of cervical cancer. We know that cervical cancer can be prevented and treated if detected in time; That is why I remain committed to this mission in honor of Henrietta Lacks, which has contributed to making this progress possible. Together we can end cervical cancer by educating, empowering, and mobilizing patient defenders, healthcare providers, doctors, researchers, community leaders, and those responsible for policy formulation to increase prevention, screening, and treatment worldwide. "
She was highlighted by the BBC as one of the 100 most influential women in the world in 2022 and has emphasized the importance of preventing, and for this supports and promotes vaccination campaigns according to WHO recommendations:
There are four vaccines prequalified by WHO that protect against HPV types (human papillomavirus) 16 and 18, causing about 70% of cases. The Nonavalente vaccine protects against five additional types of oncogenic HPV, which generate about 20% of cervical cancers. Two of the vaccines are also elements of protection against types 6 and 11, causing anogenital warts.
Vaccines are administered according to age, according to these descriptions:
Primary prevention: for girls from 9 to 14 years (before they initiated sexual activity) even some countries have started vaccination in children at this age.
Secondary prevention: For all women from the age of 30, with reinforcements at 5 and 10 years.
Tertiary prevention: For the entire female population, according to the needs of the community.
However, it is important to note that vaccines have no effect on themselves, and it is the duty of the societies responsible for policies, including other disciplines to raise awareness from the spaces of education, social leadership, and actions that involve communities, so that awareness is achieved from the same family nucleus.
CERVICAL CANCER SYMPTOMS
It is important to know certain symptoms that may be indications for medical consultation and thus prevent or treat uterine cancer in time:
• Irregular or mild stained between menstrual periods in women of reproductive age;
• stained or postmenopausal bleeding.
• bleeding after having sex; and
• Increased vaginal flow, sometimes with a bad smell.
As cervical cancer progresses, more intense symptoms may appear:
• Back pain, leg, or persistent pelvic.
• Weight loss, tiredness, loss of appetite.
• Malollyte flow and vaginal discomfort; and
• Swelling of one or both legs.
WHO and Victoria Baptiste are committed to these goals by 2030, to reach the incidence threshold of 4 cases per 100,000 women a year, according to the world strategy to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem:
• 90% of girls were vaccinated against HPV before the age of 15;
• 70% of women examined through the high precision tests before the age of 35 and again before 45 years; and
• 90% of women diagnosed with cervical cancer receive treatment (90% of women with precancerous lesions receive treatment and 90% of women with invasive cancer receive relevant attention).
Source: https://www.who.int/es/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cervical-cancer
As women, these informed of this situation is of the utmost importance, since it is a disease that affects thousands of us worldwide. If it is within your reach, it promotes in your social and family circle the importance of going to vaccination campaigns. We would like to receive your opinions and comments on our website or networks of The Woman Post.
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