I heard a story about a middle-aged woman some time ago. She was a mother of four and possessed a laugh that could brighten the dimmest room. Unfortunately, she had spent months ignoring a persistent, dull ache in her pelvis and spotting, which she convinced herself was just a sign of early menopause or perhaps the physical toll of running her small business in the bustle of the city. By the time she finally sought medical advice, the diagnosis was cervical cancer.
Her story is not unique, but it is a profound tragedy because, unlike so many other dangers that haunt our health, cervical cancer is a disease we actually know how to stop. It is a crisis that thrives on silence and the tendency of women to put their own needs last in the grand scheme of family life.
Now, cervical cancer is a growth of abnormal cells that begins in the lining of the cervix, which is the lower part of the womb that connects to the vagina. It does not appear overnight like a sudden infection or a seasonal flu. It is a slow, quiet invader that often takes many years, and sometimes a decade or more, to develop from small changes in the cells into something life-threatening.
This cancer remains one of the most common cancers affecting women globally, with hundreds of thousands of new cases diagnosed every single year. However, while wealthier nations have seen a dramatic decline in these numbers thanks to rigorous, well-funded screening programmes and public awareness, the burden remains incredibly heavy in developing regions where access to preventative care is often not considered a basic human right.
In Nigeria, the statistics are more than just cold numbers on a page; they represent mothers, sisters, and daughters lost prematurely. We lose thousands of Nigerian women to this disease annually, making it the second most common cancer among women in our country. This is particularly heartbreaking because the underlying cause is so well understood by modern science.
The truth is that the vast majority of cervical cancer cases are triggered by persistent infection with high-risk types of the human papillomavirus, or HPV. This is an incredibly common virus transmitted through skin-to-skin contact during intimacy. Most people will clear the virus naturally through their own immune system without ever knowing they carried it, but for some, it stays, silently rewriting the DNA of their cervical cells until they turn malignant.
It is important to address a common misconception here: while HPV is the primary driver of cervical cancer, it is not the only path. There have been cases, albeit rare, where young ladies who have never been sexually active developed cervical cancer. These instances usually involved non-HPV-related mutations or rare types of adenocarcinoma. Because of this, no woman should ever feel that she is exempt from paying attention to her body based on her personal history. Whether a woman is sexually active or not, any persistent abnormality in her pelvic health deserves a professional opinion.
In the early stages, cervical cancer is often completely silent. You cannot feel any lump, and there is no sudden fever to alert you that something is wrong. As it progresses, signs begin to emerge that should never be ignored or dismissed as mere female troubles. This includes unusual bleeding between periods, bleeding after intimacy, or a discharge that looks or smells different than usual. Some women experience persistent back pain or leg swelling as the tumour grows and begins to press against other organs and nerves.
The greatest risk of this cancer is that it is often detected too late. When it spreads beyond the cervix to the lungs, liver, or bones, the path to recovery becomes much steeper and more painful, and the options for treatment become far more invasive and less certain.
The ripple effect is devastating to the very fabric of our community when a woman is lost to cervical cancer. Businesses lose their founders, the economy loses a vital contributor, and worse, families lose their primary carers. The loss of a mother often leads to a decline in the health and education of her children, creating a cycle of hardship that persists for generations. So, this is not just a medical issue; it is a social and economic one that requires us to look at our approach to health critically. We cannot afford to lose the backbone of our society to a disease that is entirely preventable through simple interventions and early detection.
The truth is that, when it comes to cervical cancer, prevention is our most powerful weapon. The HPV vaccine is a medical miracle that can prevent the infection from taking hold in the first place, and it is most effective when given to young girls before they are ever exposed to the virus. For those who are older, regular screening through smear tests or HPV DNA testing is non-negotiable. These tests find the pre-cancerous changes before they ever become true cancer, allowing doctors to remove the problem cells in a simple procedure that saves lives before the battle even begins. This is not a test for cancer; it is a test to prevent cancer.
Now, management of the disease depends entirely on how early it is caught. If found in its infancy, surgery or localised treatments are highly successful and often allow a woman to go on and live a full, healthy life. Even in more advanced cases, a combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy can offer hope and extend life significantly. But we must move past the stigma and the fear of the hospital or medical professionals. We often take care of everyone else first—our children, our spouses, our ageing parents—while placing our own health at the very bottom of the priority list. This self-sacrifice, while noble in spirit, is ultimately self-defeating if it leads to a diagnosis that could have been avoided with a twenty-minute appointment.
As a woman, your well-being is not a luxury or a sign of vanity; it is the foundation upon which your entire family is built. A healthy mother is the greatest gift a child can have. So, stop waiting for a symptom to appear or for a more convenient time to visit the clinic. If you have daughters, ensure they are vaccinated against HPV.
And if you are one of those women who have not had a screening in the last three years, schedule one this week without delay. Do not let modesty, fear, or a busy schedule stand in the way of your survival. We have the science to end this, but the science only works if you show up for screening or treatment. So, take personal responsibility for your body so that you can continue to be there for the people who love you. The power to change the statistics starts with your own appointment.
Ojenagbon, a health communication expert and certified management trainer and consultant, lives in Lagos.