Sherika De Armas contested in Miss World 2015
Uruguayan beauty queen Sherika De Armas has died at the age of 26 after battling cervical cancer for 2 years, local reports have said. She had represented Uruguay in Miss Universe competition in 2015. She was one of the 6 contestants who was only 18 years old during the Miss Universe contest.
“Fly high, little sister. Always and forever"
“Fly high, little sister. Always and forever,” her brother, Mayk’ De Armas, said on social media, New York Post reported. Tributes have been pouring in for Sherika De Armas. Miss Uruguay, Carla Romero, wrote that Sherika was “too evolved for this world. One of the most beautiful women I have ever met in my life.”
Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer seen in women
As per the World Health Organisation (WHO), an estimated 6,04,000 new cases and 3,42,000 deaths in cervial cancer were reported in 2020. Early medical intervention can help identify the disease and check its progress. The common signs of cervical cancer are irregular blood spotting or light bleeding between periods in women of reproductive age; postmenopausal spotting or bleeding; bleeding after sexual intercourse; and increased vaginal discharge, sometimes foul smelling.
As cervical cancer advances these signs are visible
At an advanced stage of the cancer, signs like persistent back, leg or pelvic pain; weight loss, fatigue, loss of appetite; foul-smell discharge and vaginal discomfort; and swelling of a leg or both lower extremities. It is important to identify the symptoms of the cancer so that one can get medical help at the earliest and check the spread of the disease. The US National Cancer Institute says, when cervical cancer is diagnosed at an early stage, the 5-year relative survival rate is 91% and when it spreads to a distant part of the body, the 5-year relative survival rate is 19%.
More than 95% of the cervical cancer is caused due to human papillomavirus
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common reason for cervical cancer. "HPV is a common virus that is passed from one person to another during sex. At least half of sexually active people will have HPV at some point in their lives, but few will get cervical cancer," the US CDC says.
Screening tests
HPV test and Pap test can help identify cervical cancer. In the HPV test the human papillomavirus, that causes cell changes on the cervix, is traced. In the Pap test (or Pap smear) precancer cells are checked, it identifies the cell changes on the cervix that might become cervical cancer if they are not treated appropriately.
Vaccine myths you need to stop believing right now