Training of Roma Health Mediators in Reproductive Health

• For health problems like cancer or a reproductive tract infection, it is important to
get treated right away. Often early treatment can cure a disease before it becomes
more serious or life threatening.
• For diseases that cannot be cured, there are often treatments that slow down the
progression of the disease or lessen the severity of symptoms.
• When teaching women about breast self-exams, it is important to assess what they
know and believe about the self-exam. To do this, find out:
o Whether women have ever done a self-exam before
o How they feel about touching themselves
o Whether the fear of detecting a problem is an obstacle to self-observation
Then, tailor your educational session to meet the needs of the particular individual or
group you are teaching.
II.
CERVICAL CANCER (15 minutes)
Explain that:
• The uterus (womb), like others organs in the body, can be afflicted with cancer.
The cervix is the most frequently affected.
• In general, cervical cancer is found in older women (over age 40), although it can
occur in younger women, sometimes even less than 30 years of age.
• Although any woman can develop cervical cancer, some women are more likely
to develop it than others:
o Women who have had certain sexually transmitted infections (such as warts,
genital herpes)
o Women who have begun sexual activity very young (under the age of 17)
o Women who have delivered their first child under the age of 20
o Women who have had multiple partners.
• The diagnosis of cervical cancer is relatively easy to do and the disease can be
detected in very early stages which allows timely treatment and cure.
• Cervical cancer may be prevented by regular check-ups and screening
examination (Pap test) which can be performed even at the primary health level of
care. If possible, women should have examinations and screening tests every 2-3
years even they are having no problem and are feeling fine.
Ask participants:
‣ What are the signs that could indicate a dangerous problem with the reproductive
organs (including genital cancer)?
• Unexplained, prolonged, frequent bleeding from the vagina
• Pain during sexual intercourse
• Constant pain in the pelvis
• Bleeding starting again after the woman’s menstrual periods have stopped for a
year or more (menopause)
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RFHI/JSI Romania Training of RHMs in Reproductive Health Session 12: Breast and Cervical Cancer