'Women can avoid cervical cancer through safe sex'

MANILA, Philippines - Close to 5,000 Filipino women could avoid cervical cancer this year if their partners use condoms, according to the Philippine Cancer Society (PCS).

In its “2010 Philippine Cancer Facts and Estimates,” PCS said the cervix would be the second leading site of cancer among Filipino women this year after the breasts.

PCS said cervical cancer would account for 11 percent of all cancer cases.

Death toll from the disease may reach some 1,900, it added.

However, PCS said cancer of the cervix is “highly preventable” through vaccination against human papilloma.

“The virus is transmitted through sexual intercourse, and the more numerous the sexual partners of the woman, or the woman’s male partner, the greater the risk of being exposed to the virus,” it said.

PCS said safe sex, including the use of barrier protective devices such as condoms, offer the best means to prevent sexually transmitted disease.

“While the World Health Organization is strongly recommending condom use as an effective method of preventing HIV/AIDS, the Catholic Church in the Philippines has been consistently and vigorously opposing condom use,” it said.

PCS said the Philippines must sustain national effort to raise awareness on safe sex as protection against HIV/AIDS, other sexually transmitted diseases and cervix cancer.

It urged women to be on the look out for “warning signals” for cervical cancer, including “irregular painless bleeding not associated with menstruation” and unusual vaginal discharge.

The disease is curable if detected early and treated properly, PCS said.