Last January was the Cervical Cancer Awareness Month. But what do women know about cervical cancer? Are they aware what cervical cancer is?
To be honest, I’m one of the women who don’t have much idea on cervical cancer. All I know is that cervical cancer is cancer affecting women and that is the cancer of the cervix. And every time I heard the word cancer, the first thing that comes to my mind that it is not preventable. But I was wrong, cervical cancer can be prevented.
Thanks to Bravehearts. A multi-sectoral coalition led by the Cervical Cancer Prevention Network (CECAP) and the Cancer Institute Foundation (CIF), Bravehearts is dedicated to raising awareness on cervical cancer prevention.
Bravehearts is currently supported by a growing number of women, including prominent personalities such as Sen. Loren Legarda, Rina Jimenez David, Ellen Tordesillas, Atty. Gaby Concepcion, and Suzi Entrata.
Educating and advocating for promoting cervical cancer awareness to fight cervical cancer is the main goal of Bravehearts.
Women don’t need to die of cervical cancer because the disease develops slowly, after initial infection with the human papillomavirus. Unlike most other types of cancer, it is preventable when precursor lesions are detected and treated.
The Cancer Institute Foundation (CIF) and the Cervical Cancer Prevention Network (CECAP)
Founded in 2001, the CIF is a non-stock, non-profit organization based in Manila, Philippines which supports the Cancer Institute (CI) of the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) and its accredited cancer management network institutions with clinical, research, advocacy and financial assistance for the prevention and treatment of cancer.
This commitment springs from the Foundation’s view that the promotion of health and welfare is a responsibility not of just one but all: that the government, individuals or groups, given a vehicle like the foundation, they will generously share their time, efforts and resources with their fellowmen who are ill but have little means to get well.
The Cervical Cancer Prevention Network (CECAP) under the CIF is an alliance of organizations from the private and public sector, including health professionals and other concerned non-government agencies that are all committed in eliminating cervical cancer among Filipino women.
Fast Facts About Cervical Cancer:
Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women worldwide, with 500,000 new cases and 250,000 deaths reported each year. Over 80% of cases occur in developing countries including the Philippines, where it is ranked as the second most common cancer afflicting Filipino women. Yet few women realize that cervical cancer is actually treatable if diagnosed early.
Preventing Cervical Cancer through the Single Visit Approach (SVA), Cryotherapy and Vaccination:
One of the primary goals of CECAP is to fund cervical cancer screenings throughout the Philippines by using the Single Visit Approach (SVA) and on-the-spot treatment through cryotherapy.
SVA: The SVA combines both screening and treatment in one session. It uses an effective, low-resource screening method called the Visual Inspection using Acetic Acid (VIA), a simple technique that uses vinegar to detect precancerous lesions on the cervix and requires much less equipment and time investment than a PAP smear.
CRYOTHERAPY: a process where the areas with lesions are frozen using a common liquid coolant like carbon dioxide, effectively eliminating the abnormality and preventing possible progression to cancer.
VACCINATION: GlaxoSmithKline’s cervical cancer vaccine provides significant protection for women against the two most common cancer-causing human papillomavirus (HPV) types (HPV types 16 and 18) for nearly six and a half years, the longest duration of protection reported to date. In fact, the GSK cervical cancer vaccine does not demonstrate, at the moment, the need for a booster shot even after 6 years of vaccination. HPV types 16 and 18, together, are responsible for over 70 percent of cervical cancer cases in Asia Pacific. GSK’s cervical cancer vaccine has also shown efficacy against persistent infection caused by 12 other cancer-causing HPV types beyond HPV 16 and 18. Designed for both young and mature women, females from 10 years old onwards can be vaccinated using GSK’s cervical cancer vaccine.
The vaccine, which GSK claims to be for 15 to 55 years old, is to be taken for three periods, with the second taken a month after the first shot, and the third six months after the second shot. The cost per shot is about P2,500 (depending on the doctor’s fee) before it was P6,000.
Here are some of the celebrities had the new cervical cancer vaccine:
Remember, every woman deserves a chance against cervical cancer. Help X out cervical cancer, visit www.xoutcervicalcancer.com.ph
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Thanks to Bravehearts for inviting us. Not only we had fun in our target shooting session and a mini-competition, we also become aware of the myths, the real thing and the different ways to prevent cervical cancer.
Here are some of the pictures during the Shoot Out HPV bloggers’ event:
For more pictures, click here
12 Comments
okay! si cristine reyes ba yun nakapolo or kamukha lang.ahehe
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yep, kamukha nga. kala ko mga siya e.
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thanks sa post mo, papabasa ko ito sa wife ko mamya.
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You are welcome. Kaw din, help us spread awareness about cervical cancer and how can women prevent it.
cge try ko, idigg ko ito then send s buzzfeed. ang napansin ko lang sa problemang ito e yun kakulangan sa education. kasi yun iba e naniniwala sa mga sabi-sabi or paniniwala ng matatanda. sana may video ng vent na ito.
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That’s why Bravehearts are doing some talk on cervical awareness – the myths, the real thing and the different ways to prevent cervical cancer. Unfortunately, wala ako video. But I know Jonel of LetsGoSago.net has video of the talk. wait natin upload nya.
haha. kamukha noh… She’s from GSK.
hi aeirin, nice post about the event…saya din ng target shooting…about cervical cancer prevention, start na ko mag-ipon for the vaccine..haha. 🙂
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planning to get mine after giving birth. if they allow it when i am breast feeding.
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Hello. it’s so nice that you are making EVERYONE know about this case
I’m a nurse and i just wanna help my patietns.
anyway, do you have some list or names of the agencies or institutions that support cervical cancer?
your reply would greatly be appreciated.
hi… thank sa post… dapat lahat ng girl maging aware what is cervical cancer… at now i know na magagmot pa pala toh if you have it na… all i know is pagsalitang Cancer ang hirap na icure…but my question panu kung malala na? magagamot pa ba kaya toh? or yung mga sypmtoms ay nararamdaman mona,,, mgagagamot pa kaya toh.?
Ang ganda ng topic na to ha. Kaya nga sabi ni Robin, “Proteksyon ang kailangan, hindi inpekson”. Ang problema eh hindi lahat ng babae aware sa ganito. Ang gusto kasi nila mag enjoy.
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