Cervical cancer prevention in Ghana.

Abstract

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer and is responsible for nearly 10% of all cancer deaths among women in the country.1 It is estimated that about 3000 deaths occur annually, and more tragically, many of these deaths can be prevented with a well-instituted preventive programme. Cervical cancer has been linked with infec-tion with some Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) species in more than 95% of cases. HPV is a family of more than 150 species, but few of them have been linked with cer-vical, vulval and vaginal cancer in women; penile cancer in men; and throat, mouth and anal cancer in both men and women – the so-called high-risk HPV types.