By The PPH Foundation
Cervical cancer and anaemia often overlap, creating a high-risk scenario for postpartum haemorrhage (PPH). Tumour-related bleeding, chronic blood loss, and nutritional deficiencies in women with cervical cancer often lead to anaemia, lowering haemoglobin levels and reducing the body’s capacity to cope with blood loss during childbirth. This combination significantly increases the likelihood of severe PPH and complicates recovery.
In Kenya’s coastal region, Dr Mitei Chepwogen, chair of the Coast Region of the Kenya Gynaecological and Obstetric Society, notes that in places like Mombasa, many women arrive at childbirth already anaemic. When cancer-related bleeding adds to this, the risk of life-threatening PPH rises sharply. She emphasizes that addressing anaemia before delivery is crucial to reducing maternal deaths from haemorrhage.
Clinical research confirms that anaemia is a strong independent risk factor for PPH. Women with lower pre-birth haemoglobin levels are more likely to experience severe bleeding, require transfusions, or face critical complications during delivery. When cervical cancer is present, the combined effect of tumour-related blood loss and pre-existing anaemia compounds the risk of PPH, making proactive care essential.
Anaemia also affects cancer treatment outcomes, with low haemoglobin linked to poorer survival and response to therapies such as chemoradiation. Ensuring timely correction of anaemia—through iron supplementation, nutritional support, or transfusion when needed—not only improves maternal health but also strengthens the body’s resilience against haemorrhage.
Addressing cervical cancer-related anaemia before and during pregnancy is therefore critical to preventing PPH and improving recovery outcomes. Coordinated care that integrates obstetric, oncology, and haematology services ensures women are safer during childbirth and better supported in their cancer treatment.
Sources
- MedCrave Online, HTIJ Journal, 2024
- Health Business Kenya: Kenya’s Race to End Maternal Deaths: The PPH Crisis and the End-PPH Run
- PubMed, WOMAN‑2 Trial, 2023
- ScienceDirect, Cancer and Anaemia Management Studies, 2024
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