MANILA, Philippines—When celebrity model Tweetie De Leon-Gonzales was approached by pharmaceutical firm Merck Sharp & Dohme for its campaign against cervical cancer, she admitted that she was hesitant at first.
“I had to ask my OB-gyne first, because I really didn’t know much about it yet,” De Leon told the Inquirer. “I needed to consult about cervical cancer, the issues surrounding it and the possible prevention and cure for it.”
Doubtful at first
De Leon explained that her doubts were mainly on the controversy surrounding cervical cancer vaccine when it was first launched.
“After having been told by my doctor that a lot of Filipinos are suffering from this [condition], I said to myself that I should be a part of this advocacy,” she said. “Besides, I am also at that stage where I am more prone to different types of cancer.”… read more >>
MANILA, Philippines – Babae Mahalaga Ka is the theme of Cervical Awareness Month and Filipino women nationwide are encouraged to take better care of themselves by being conscious of the perils of cervical cancer. This is the most common cancer among women in the Philippines, with about 6,000 cases being diagnosed each year.
“The incidence of cervical cancer rises starting 30 years of age, and peaks at ages 45 to 55,” says Dr. Rey Delos Reyes, president of the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists of the Philippines. “However, the recommendation is that women initiate screening three years after first sexual contact.” He notes that societal mores can put off unmarried women from openly admitting sexual activity, so that they do not submit themselves for cervical cancer screening. The results can be dire. Worldwide statistics show that 493,000 new cases are diagnosed annually, with 274,000 deaths. Of the latter, more than 80 percent occur in developing countries like the Philippines… read more >>
The Eduardo J. Aboitiz Cancer Center (EJACC) of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. urged the public to observe regular screenings to detect cervical and breast cancer at early stages.
Last month, EJACC held a regular cervical and breast cancer control community outreach program in Sibonga town, southern Cebu. The program offered free medical check-ups and laboratory tests.
With May being the Cervical Cancer Prevention and Awareness Month, EJACC also conducted free active cancer screenings and lectures about cervical cancer in collaboration with the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) Cancer Institute, VSMMC Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Cervical Cancer Prevention Network Program… read more >>
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