It was such a great relief to learn that KCC dispensary offers free breast and cervical cancer tests. Not knowing your health status can be such a great burden to carry. For a long time I had been contemplating on when and where to go for a cervical cancer test. Cervical cancer test is also known as Pap test or Pap smear. I had tried visiting gynecological clinics but the costs of getting the tests done in a private clinic are quite high. They range between Uganda shillings 30,000 to 50, 000. I had previously visited two clinics one in Wandegeya and the other on Kampala road.
Luckily enough I was informed just in time that Kampala City Council dispensary on Nkrumah road did the tests and also offered the treatment for free. The services are available from Monday to Friday between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm. The Uganda Women’s Health Initiative collaborating with UCL funded by the UK is the angel behind this service.
It was last week that I decided to go for a cervical and breast cancer test; it was not an easy decision to make. I was escorted by a friend, Jocelyn Nabire who also wanted to get the tests done. When we reached, we had to first go through counseling by Sr Annet Nabakka. She informed us about the dangers of cervical cancer, how one can get it and the importance of detecting it early.
The medical personnel at KCC are very friendly, they will speak to you in any local language you feel comfortable communicating in, and they also make sure that you feel at home so as to trust them with your body. It is only women in this section so that gives you confidence to go on with the test.
Sr Nabakka explained that the cervix is part of a woman's reproductive system. It's in the pelvis. The cervix is the lower, narrow part of the uterus (womb). It is a passageway because it connects the uterus to the vagina. During a menstrual period, blood flows from the uterus through the cervix into the vagina. The vagina leads to the outside of the body.
“This is a voluntary test, it is up to you to take it or leave it, and you should test every after three years and for those with HIV/AIDS should test after one year” she said.
Sr Annet Nabakka also said that taking it is necessary to take this test and know your status. If cervical cancer is detected early enough, then they can free the virus and you will be cured. She also said that 80% of women with cancer have cervical cancer.
“Do not wait for the pain to start before coming for a checkup, because by then it might be too late, sometimes we may find other sexually transmitted diseases like gonorrhea, syphilis and treat them,” advised Sr Rose Izimba.
Sr Izimba also said advised that us to take the test every three years just to be sure that we are fine. Lack of regular Pap tests: Cervical cancer is more common among women who don't have regular pap tests. The Pap test helps doctors find abnormal cells.
“If you are found with cervical cancer, we remove or kills the abnormal cells,” said Izimba.
She also noted that while undergoing treatment one is advised to abstain from having sex for at least four weeks and then go for another test after six months.
Infection with HPV (human papilloma virus) is the main cause of cervical cancer. HPV infection and other risk factors may act together to increase the risk even more.
HPV infections are very common. These viruses are passed from person to person through sexual contact. Most adults have been infected with HPV at some time in their lives, but most infections clear up on their own.
“Women who have had many sexual partners have a higher risk of developing cervical cancer. Also, a woman who has had sex with a man who has had many sexual partners may be at higher risk of developing cervical cancer. In both cases, the risk of developing cervical cancer is higher because these women have a higher risk of HPV infection,” she added.
Sr Nabakka also informed us that we had to undress before the tests can be done. The dispensary provides wrappers for one to use.
After all the counseling session which took us about ten minutes, we were asked to wait outside in order of who came first. People were given an option of testing for only breast cancer, just in case they did not feel comfortable undressing. In other words the decision was up to us to decide whether to have both tests done or get just one or even leave it all.
I had a one on one discussion with Sr Nabakka, she asked me when I first had sex, if I had ever given birth, if I had ever had a miscourage or if I had ever had any Sexually Transmitted Disease. Basing on my answers I almost lost the chance of getting the test done on me because of my age, but I insisted that I wanted to know where I stand and it done. It was such an embarrassing situation to undress and lie down on that hospital bed as the nurse was looking at me.
We started with the breast cancer test and to my relief the results were negative. I was examined by Sister Izimba who was wearing gloves on her hands, she checked my breasts using the touch and feel method.
Then we proceeded to the Pap smear, it did not take us even five minutes before it was done. She told me, that I did not have anything wrong with my uterus.
My friend Jocelyn was afraid to do the Pap smear, she only got the breast cancer test done.
Afterwards, we introduced our selves to the nurses that we were journalist and wanted to write about our experience. They welcomed the idea of spreading the gospel. They said that will be grateful if more women’s lives were saved from dying of cervical cancer. It is my humble request to whoever reads this article please pass on this information on to all the women you can come across. Tell your sister, mother, girlfriend, grandmother, and friend’s friends to go for the checkup. Let’s save lives while we still can. Life is precious once lost can never be regained. The tests are done free of charge and treatment is also given for free.
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