Babae, mahalaga ka: May is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month

 

However, said Health Undersecretary Teodoro Herbosa, who launched the campaign at the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center in Manila, cervical cancer is curable if detected early and may actually be prevented by getting vaccinated for the human papilloma virus (HPV), the major cause of cervical cancer. “All women are at risk of having cervical cancer and most occurs during reproductive age and starts at the age of 30 onwards. And the only way to prevent this from happening is to have a regular screening and proper HPV vaccination,” DOH Metro Manila head Eduardo Janairo also said in a statement. “I advise all reproductive age women to undergo the routine screening to be able to prevent the disease from developing. Also, practice healthy lifestyle such as proper diet and nutrition, don’t smoke and be monogamous to avoid having the disease,” he added. Janairo said cervical cancer is "highly curable" if detected and treated early. Programs during Cervical Cancer Awareness Month (CCAM) include free cervical cancer screening nationwide for the whole month of May in regional DOH hospitals and symposiums to educate medical practitioners and the public about the disease. DOH hospitals in Metro Manila that offer free screening include: Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Medical Hospital East Avenue Medical Center Tondo Medical Center Quirino Memorial Medical Center Amang Rodriguez Medical Center Rizal Medical Center Las Piñas General Hospital and Satellite Trauma Center Valenzuela General Hospital San Lorenzo Ruiz Memorial Hospital Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital. The department is also positive that there will be a budget allotted for the treatment of cervical cancer in the country. — BM, GMA News