Although cancer has traditionally been associated with the elderly, it affects persons of any age. For this reason, getting a professional medical opinion is essential.
In 2015, Unathi Lupuwana from East London, Eastern Cape, received a diagnosis of cervical cancer at the age of 27. After not feeling well, she decided to leave her job in Cape Town and return home. At the time, she was unsure of the cause of her illness.
“I suffered from bruises I’d see this after work when I’m relaxing but I would not recall bumping into anything. I’m also a foodie so I just stopped eating like I would normally; I did not worry much because I still looked good,” says Lupuwana.
After she lost weight, she decided to return from Cape Town to East London.
“I needed to go home, something was not okay. One could tell I was sick but I felt like death on and off.”
The bruises would show up in her thighs and legs and would last two to three weeks before disappearing.
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Cancer Awareness
Lupuwana was listening to the radio at her friend’s home one night when she heard a guest speaker discussing cancer symptoms. She says that everything mentioned related to her symptoms perfectly.
“This lady was dishing them [symptoms] out. I woke up to go to the ladies to relieve myself and I ended up sitting up and stressing.”
“This lady went on to say this is a silent killer and I was so scared and curious at the same time, and she just dragged on so I left the room to go to the ladies. When I walked back into the room she said cervical cancer and there went my life in flames,” adds Lupuwana.
The following days, she told her friend, and they agreed that on her way home, they should stop at the clinic for tests, and cameras were put into her vagina for a check-up. A few weeks later, she was diagnosed with stage 4 cervical cancer.
Getting through chemo
After receiving a cancer diagnosis, Lupuwana underwent a difficult course of treatment, including radiation and chemotherapy. She described chemotherapy as the most challenging experience she had ever faced in her life. It was a time of great suffering and struggle, but she is grateful to have survived and to be alive today.
“I’d leave my car at the hospital and take a taxi that’s how bad chemotherapy is, or I would nap in the car and drive to my place later.”
She was notified in 2016 that she only had 11 days to live. While the news was being told, a doctor she knew told her that in Asia, cannabis is used in cancer treatment for reviving the cells.
“I smelt death so rotten. I was so dead but alive if that makes sense; my hair started to fall off so I just shaved and rocked a blonde look. I hated looking sick with a passion”
Unathi Lupuwana
She consumed cannabis tea daily, which resulted in her developing physical strength and being able to reach out to the hospital for medical examinations.
In 2017, she amazed everyone with her remarkable recovery and resilience. I was told, ‘Baby girl, you fought a good fight,’ and the doctor said, “I never want to see you here again.’ We laughed and hugged.”
Lupuwana has been cancer-free for six years. She mentions that cancer runs in her family’s lineage and that her family members have also informed her that it could be genetic.
Identifying potential causes
According to Dr. Xulu, from Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital, in Mthatha in the Eastern; the most common cause of cervical cancer is the human papillomavirus, particularly types 16 and 18. He says that several factors can increase a woman’s risk of contracting HPV, including having multiple sexual partners, having sex at a young age, having multiple pregnancies, having prior STI infections, and exposure to second-hand smoke.
Xulu lists abnormal vaginal bleeding, abnormal vaginal discharge, pain during intercourse, and pelvic discomfort as common early symptoms of cervical cancer.
As the disease progresses, he says, patients may experience hydronephrosis, lymphedema, and fistula development.
Diagnosis
Xulu says that ulceration, induration, exophytic tumour and external growths are all potential physical signs of cervical cancer. In addition to these physical signs, he recommends regular cervical cancer screening, such as a Pap smear, to check for any abnormal cells. If a Pap smear suggests the presence of abnormal cells, the next step is a colposcopy to get a closer look at the cervix and a biopsy to take a small tissue sample for further testing.
“Staging is based on the extent of the primary tumour and spread. We use FIGO staging (preferred to determine the appropriate treatment of cervical cancer and likely prognosis of the disease)”
Dr Mxolisi Xulu
Treatment options
In general, early-stage cervical cancer is treated with surgery, while later-stage disease is treated with a combination of surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. The specific treatments recommended depend on the stage of the cancer, as well as other factors such as the patient’s age and overall health. Xulu also emphasises the importance of treating metastatic (spread beyond the cervix) cervical cancer with palliative radiotherapy to relieve symptoms, as well as systemic chemotherapy to try to control the spread of the disease.
“For early disease, conization and radical trachelectomy are fertility-sparing options.”
“They are preferred surgeries for women of childbearing age (who want to conceive in future)”
To prevent cervical cancer, Xulu recommends barrier protection, such as condoms, and adherence to regular cervical cancer screening. Cervical cancer screening involves tests such as pap smears and HPV testing, which can help detect the disease in its early stages when it is most treatable. Regular screenings, along with lifestyle factors like avoiding tobacco use, can help reduce the risk of developing cervical cancer.
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