Discovery Foundation recipient is helping to stem the tide against cervical cancer

According to the World Health Organization, approximately eight South African women die every day from cervical cancer. Dr Matthys van Aardt, a specialist gynaecologist obstetrician at Steve Biko Academic Hospital, believes local research could help reduce those numbers.

Cervical cancer has a significant impact on society because death often occurs in young women at the age when they’re raising families. Unfortunately in sub-Saharan Africa, where other life-threatening illnesses like HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis take precedence, cervical cancer does not get the attention it needs.

Dr van Aardt, a Discovery Foundation Award recipient, chose obstetrics and gynaecology as his specialisation because he says it is a field where many different aspects of medicine are at play.

“After starting specialisation, I realised that I have a special interest in gynaecologic oncology. I feel there is a big difference we can make for women diagnosed with cancer, from conveying bad news to guiding treatment, treatment options and palliative care. Invasive cervical cancer is preceded by HPV infections. Despite numerous HPV types illustrated on cervical surface typing, the causal relationship between the specific oncogenic type and the resultant neoplasia is complex,” says Dr van Aardt.

It is in this field that he is focusing his research, and which the Discovery Foundation is funding. “I would like to add new insight into HPV causing cervical abnormalities in our country and in guiding future HPV vaccines in women with and without HIV.”

Prof Dreyer, the head of Gynaecologic Oncology at the University of Pretoria, says doctorate students and successful candidates in the clinical sciences are scarce and few clinicians are interested in full-time research posts. In addition, full time doctorate studies in clinical sciences are difficult to fund and their salaries are expensive. As a full-time doctorate student, Dr van Aardt will contribute in a major way to the research done at the University’s Women’s Cancer Research Centre and its clinical sub-specialty unit. The Centre focuses on cancer prevention strategies for gynaecological and breast cancer. Its ongoing projects include investigating how HPV vaccine implementation in schools can best be done.

Dr van Aardt’s passion for medicine has been many years in the making. “I have a constant desire to be the best I can possibly be and medicine is the field that best suited to this need. As a constantly evolving and challenging field, it enables me to push my own limitations and forces me to improve my abilities. I believe that we serve a purpose greater than ourselves and that God planned this life for me.”