Everything You Need to Know About Cervical Cancer

Twelve Filipinas die due of cervical cancer every day. Yet it is a wholly preventable disease, and women’s health care professionals are helping to fight cervical cancer by campaigning to inform women about it.

“One of our local studies showed that up to 84 percent of women surveyed did not know the important facts about cervical cancer what causes it, and how it can be prevented,” says Dr Maria Julieta Germar, a gynecologic oncologist of the UP PGH.

There are a lot of common misconceptions out there, Dr Germar adds. “Having the correct information is the first step in the fight. Once a woman knows what causes it and how to prevent it, she can then take steps to arm herself against this disease.

Here are the truths about some of the most common myths about cervical cancer. This information can potentially save your life — or that of the woman you love:

• Myth: Cervical cancer is uncommon.

Fact: On the contrary, the Department of Health (DoH) says that cervical cancer is the second most common killer cancer among Filipino women. The DoH estimates that every year, there are about 7,277 new cases of cervical cancer, and that there will be 3,807 deaths because of it.

• Myth: Cervical cancer is not caused by a virus.

Fact: Most people don’t associate cancer with a virus, but the human papillomavirus (HPV), which lives in the skin or mucous membranes, can cause changes in the cervix which in turn can lead to cervical cancer. In fact, HPV is the main cause for cervical cancer in 99.7 percent of all cases. There are about 120 types of the virus; of these types, 15 are considered high-risk or cancer-causing as they can cause cervical cancer.

• Myth: HPV is transmitted only through sexual intercourse.

Fact: HPV is the most common sexually transmitted virus, affecting both men and women. It can be transmitted through any kind of sexual activity that involves skin-to-skin contact as HPV infects the skin, particularly around or near the genital areas (such as the thighs and buttocks). Thus, sexual intercourse isn’t necessary for transmission. Furthermore, using a condom won’t prevent an HPV infection, since the virus can be transmitted through contact with parts of the skin that aren’t covered by a condom.

• Myth: Only sexually promiscuous people are at risk of HPV infection.

Fact: HPV is such a common virus that women will be infected with HPV at one point in their lives. Eight out of 10 women will have HPV infection in their lifetime regardless of age, economic status or lifestyle.

• Myth: Cervical cancer cannot be prevented.

Fact: Cervical cancer is highly preventable because there is a long period before cell abnormalities turn into cancer. It is therefore important to have regular pap smears so that early changes in the cervix can be detected and treated..

Fortunately, there is also a way to prevent HPV infection before it starts, that is, by being immunized with HPV vaccines. The HPV vaccine provides significant protection for women against the two most common cancer-causing human papillomavirus (HPV) types (16 and 18), and also against 12 other cancer-causing HPV types which include HPV strain 45, which causes a more aggressive form of cervical cancer among Filipinas. Designed to last for both young and mature women, females from 10 years old onwards can be vaccinated with the HPV vaccine.

(source: Phil Star)