The Month of
May has been declared as Cervical Cancer Awareness and Prevention Month
in the Philippines to foster public awareness on the prevention, early
detection and control of cervical cancer.
In May 2008, the Department of Health (DOH) in cooperation with Cancer Institute Foundation Inc., Cervical Cancer Prevention Network Program and Merck Sharp & Dohme Philippines launched the Cervical Cancer Awareness and Prevention Month with the theme: “Babae Mahalaga Ka.”
Cervical cancer is malignant tumor of the cervix uteri or cervical area. Cervical area of the uterus, which usually called “uterine cervix,” is the part of uterus which connects uterine body to the vaginal. Most of cervical cancer start at transformation zone, a place where endocervix meet.
In the Philippines, Cervical Cancer is the 2nd leading cancer site among women. An estimated 7,277 new cases of, and 3,807 deaths due to cervical cancer are expected to occur every year.
Generally, all women who have had sexual intercourse are at risk of cervix cancer. However, rare types of cervical cancer can occur even in women who never had any sexual intercourse in their life.
In recent studies, there had been overwhelming evidence that an infectious agent particularly human papilloma virus (HPV) that is transmitted through sexual intercourse causes cancer of the cervix.
Established as possible causes of cervix cancer are as follows; those who have had multiple sexual partners, those who have had sexual partners (regular or casual) who themselves had several sexual partners, those who have had sexual partners infected with human papilloma virus and those who had first sexual intercourse at a very early age, possibly 15 or 16 years old.
Generally, cervix cancer do not have symptoms. Often, the disease is detected during its advance stage. However, some impressions often lead to cervix cancer such as; unusual bleeding from the vagina at any time and/or unpleasant vaginal discharge.
Cervical cancer when detected early is curable. At present, the most reliable and practical way to diagnose early cervical cancer is through Pap smear.
A woman’s first Pap smear should be done three (3) years after the first vaginal intercourse. After that, it should be done every year for 3 years. If the Pap smear test is negative for the consecutive 3 years, then it can be done every 2 or 3 years. For unmarried woman who never had sexual activity in their life, Pap smear should be done at age 35.
Since there is almost universal acceptance that cervical cancer is primarily transmitted through sexual intercourse, the following preventive measures should be followed: a-one-partner sexual relationship, between partner should be observed; a delay on the first sexual intercourse and the use of barriers contraceptives like condoms during sexual intercourse.
In line with the celebration, DOH conducts seminars, open forums, support activities and free cervical screening in selected hospitals in the country.
In May 2008, the Department of Health (DOH) in cooperation with Cancer Institute Foundation Inc., Cervical Cancer Prevention Network Program and Merck Sharp & Dohme Philippines launched the Cervical Cancer Awareness and Prevention Month with the theme: “Babae Mahalaga Ka.”
Cervical cancer is malignant tumor of the cervix uteri or cervical area. Cervical area of the uterus, which usually called “uterine cervix,” is the part of uterus which connects uterine body to the vaginal. Most of cervical cancer start at transformation zone, a place where endocervix meet.
In the Philippines, Cervical Cancer is the 2nd leading cancer site among women. An estimated 7,277 new cases of, and 3,807 deaths due to cervical cancer are expected to occur every year.
Generally, all women who have had sexual intercourse are at risk of cervix cancer. However, rare types of cervical cancer can occur even in women who never had any sexual intercourse in their life.
In recent studies, there had been overwhelming evidence that an infectious agent particularly human papilloma virus (HPV) that is transmitted through sexual intercourse causes cancer of the cervix.
Established as possible causes of cervix cancer are as follows; those who have had multiple sexual partners, those who have had sexual partners (regular or casual) who themselves had several sexual partners, those who have had sexual partners infected with human papilloma virus and those who had first sexual intercourse at a very early age, possibly 15 or 16 years old.
Generally, cervix cancer do not have symptoms. Often, the disease is detected during its advance stage. However, some impressions often lead to cervix cancer such as; unusual bleeding from the vagina at any time and/or unpleasant vaginal discharge.
Cervical cancer when detected early is curable. At present, the most reliable and practical way to diagnose early cervical cancer is through Pap smear.
A woman’s first Pap smear should be done three (3) years after the first vaginal intercourse. After that, it should be done every year for 3 years. If the Pap smear test is negative for the consecutive 3 years, then it can be done every 2 or 3 years. For unmarried woman who never had sexual activity in their life, Pap smear should be done at age 35.
Since there is almost universal acceptance that cervical cancer is primarily transmitted through sexual intercourse, the following preventive measures should be followed: a-one-partner sexual relationship, between partner should be observed; a delay on the first sexual intercourse and the use of barriers contraceptives like condoms during sexual intercourse.
In line with the celebration, DOH conducts seminars, open forums, support activities and free cervical screening in selected hospitals in the country.
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