FREE CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING - Cervical Cancer Awareness Month

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are half a million new cases of cervical cancer each year and 250,000 of them lead to mortality. It is also the second most common cancer in women worldwide, including the Philippines, where an estimated 6,000 Filipino women get diagnosed every year.  Sadly, more than half of these cases die within five years.

Cervical cancer is cancer that starts in the cervix. The cervix is the lower, narrow end of the uterus. It connects the vagina to the upper part of the uterus.

Early on, cervical cancer may not cause signs and symptoms but advanced cervical cancer may cause bleeding or discharge from the vagina that is not normal, such as bleeding after sex. All women are at risk of getting cervical cancer, especially those over 30 years old.

While genetics still play a major role in all types of cancers, WHO says other factors contribute to women having cervical cancer. For instance, cigarette smoking is consistently linked with an increased risk of developing cervical cancer. Women who have had a greater number of full-term pregnancies or have used oral contraceptive pills for a long period of time also have higher risk of having cervical cancer.

Other possible causes of cervical cancer also include those who have had multiple sexual partners, who have had sexual partners (regular or casual) who themselves had several sexual partners, and  those who had their first sexual intercourse at a very early age, possibly 15 or 16 years old.

But in almost all cervical cancer cases (99%), Human Papillomavirus (HPV) appears to be the main cause.  HPV a very common viral infection of the reproductive tract that is sexually-transmitted.

Fortunately, cervical cancer is avoidable and if detected early, curable.

Here are some prevention tips by leading health care provider PhilCare:

Get vaccinated against HPV. It is given in a series of three shots;
See a doctor regularly for a Pap Smear;
One-partner sexual relationship between partners should be observed;
A delay on the first sexual intercourse;
Use condom
Stop smoking

Take advantage of the Free Cervical Cancer Screening with the schedules below:

METRO MANILA Hospitals (Screenings are held Every Wednesday)
* Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center
*Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital
*Tondo Medical Center
*Quirino Memorial Medical Center
*Amang Rodriguez Medical Center
*Rizal Medical Center
*Las Pinas General Hospital and Satellite Trauma Center
*Valenzuela General Hospital
*San Lorenzo Ruiz Memorial Hospital
*Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital

LUZON (Screenings are held Every Friday):
*Region 1 Medical Center
*Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center
*Mariano Marcos Memorial Medical Center
*Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center
*Luis Hora Memorial Hospital
*Conner District Hospital
*Veterans Regional Hospital
*Far North General Hospital and Training Center
*Cagayan Valley Medical Center
*Southern Isabela General Hospital
*Batanes General Hospital
*Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Research and Medical Center
*Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital
*Talavera Extension Hospital
*Bataan General Hospital
*Batangas Regional Hospital
*Culion Sanitarium
*Ospital ng Palawan
*Bicol Medical Center
*Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital
*Bicol Sanitarium


VISAYAS: ( Screenings are held every Tuesday)
*Western Visayas Medical Center
*Don Jose Monfort Medical Center Extension Hospital
*Corazon Locsin Montelibano Regional Hospital
*Western Visayas Sanitarium
*Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center
*Celestino Gallares Memorial Medical Center
*St. Anthony Mother and Child Hospital
*Eversely Child Sanitarium
*Talisay District Hospital
*Eastern Visayas Memorial Medical Center
*Schistosomiasis Control and Research Hospital

MINDANAO (Screenings are held every Thursday)

*Zamboanga City Medical Center
*Dr. Jose Rizal Memorial Hospital
*Mindanao Central Sanitarium
*Basilan General Hospital
*Margosa Tubig Regional Hospital
*Labuan Public Hospital
*Northern Mindanao Medical Center
*Hilarion A. Ramiro Sr. Regional and Teaching Hospital
*Davao Regional Hospital
*Davao Medical Center
*Cotabato Regional Medical Center
*Cotabato Sanitarium
*AMAI Pakpak Medical Center
*CARAGA Regional Hospital
*Adela Serna Ty Memorial Medical Center