The ob-gyne: Women's best friend

MANILA, Philippines - At age 27, Jade Goody, UK Big Brother reality star, died of cervical cancer a month after diagnosis.  

This reality is closer than we think. All women  no matter what her age, economic status, or lifestyle is  can fall victim to cervical cancer.

In the Philippines, studies show that 28 million Filipinas, aged 15 to 64 years old, are at risk of contracting this disease. Majority of women diagnosed with cervical cancer are already in the late stages of the disease; and one out of three diagnosed die within the year.

Dr. Ricky Luna, specializing in obstetrics-gynecology (ob-gyn), revealed that most cases of cervical cancer are from developing countries, such as the Philippines. “About 12 Filipinas die of cervical cancer each day. So, from the time we wake up to the time we end this day, another 12 Filipinas will have died of cervical cancer, majority of whom never even consulted a doctor,” he explains.

At the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) alone, there are 600 new cases of cervical cancer a year. For over 30 years, there has been no improvement in handling this disease.

That is the reason why the Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society (POGS) has joined hands with GlaxoSmithKline to protect Filipino women from cervical cancer through the Women First advocacy.

The Women First advocacy aims to spread information about cervical cancer to women through a variety of programs and seminars. Part of its mission is to create new channels for discussion for this disease.

Last May, being Cervical Cancer Month, the official TV commercial of Women First was launched. There were two versions of the TV commercial catering to two age brackets. The first one, focusing on young women, features Maxine Magalona. The second, featuring Pia Magalona, caters to a mature audience. Both TV commercials have one message: All women should have regular checkups with their ob-gynecologist to prevent the onset of cervical cancer. There was also a short program about the cervical cancer causes and means for prevention.

The World Health Organization (WHO) conducted a study that showed that cervical cancer is commonly caused by HPV. Thus, intervention is the key for women to evade this malignancy.

“HPV 16 and 18 are the common causes of cervical cancer in the Philippines,” explains Dr. Christia Padolina, POGS secretary. “The good news is we do have vaccinations available.”

“We want the awareness (of cervical cancer) to spread like wildfire. We want people to realize that Filipino women should come first by using something generally present in all households  TV sets,” says Pia Magalona, cervical cancer prevention advocate. “If you love your family, take care of yourself first. Go visit your ob-gyn regularly; make her your friend so you can be sure that everything is in order.”

For more information about cervical cancer or to schedule a free cervical lecture from POGS, call the POGS secretariat through Sandra Eramis at cell phone numbers 09208662467 and 09178352915 or telephone numbers 435-2384/85.