HPV

Circumcision beneficial for women too

The benefits of medical male circumcision have been proven to also extend to women. It has been shown that female partners of men who are circumcised have a less risk of contracting the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), a sexually transmitted virus that causes cervical cancer.

Source URL: 
http://www.health-e.org.za/news/article.php?uid=20033799

Shortage of dentists raises risk of cancer

South Africans are increasingly exposed to the risks of mouth and throat cancer because of a chronic shortage of dentists.

According to the South African Dental Association, there are possibly fewer than 3500 practising dentists in the country.

"Your oral cavity is never examined unless you go to a dentist," said Professor André van Zyl, of the School of Dentistry at the University of Pretoria.

He was speaking at a press briefing in Cape Town yesterday to highlight the increased risks of developing mouth and throat cancer through smoking cannabis and using hubbly-bubbly or hookah pipes.

Source URL: 
http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/2012/01/24/shortage-of-dentists-raises-risk-of-...

Cervical cancer - is vaccination the way to go?

Series Name: 
Nursing Update
Published by: 
Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa
Cervical cancer is the second most prevalent cancer (second to breast cancer) to affect women in South Africa. The most common cancer to affect black women - 31 per cent of all cancers - it is also preventable and treatable. It is associated with the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), of which the most prevalent strains are 16 and 18. Cervical cancer also appears to be an opportunistic infection among those living with HIV as it links to a weakened immune system. In South Africa a woman's risk of developing cervical cancer is one in 26. Each year 6 700 women develop cervical cancer while 3 700 die from the disease annually in South Africa.