Power Over Cervical Cancer
We may be living in an
era where women not only rule our homes, they also run the world—from being
leaders in the government to managing business enterprises, women now have more
opportunities to realize their dreams.
The sad fact, however, is that every day, seven Filipino
women die of cervical cancer , and may never get to complete their life goals,
may be stripped of the chance to fulfill a successful career, start a family or
even just find Mr. Right. All because of a disease, a kind of cancer that puts
every woman at risk, regardless of race, age, lifestyle or socio-economic
status .
Watch the full event here
Watch the full event here
Cervical cancer continues to be a major threat for
Filipino women. It is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among Filipinas
. What’s worrisome is that two in three Filipinas diagnosed with cervical
cancer may die within five years . Since culturally, Filipinas are known to be
caring and selfless for others but tend to dismiss concerns about themselves,
those who may have contracted cervical cancer may have been diagnosed at a late
stage, when the chances of recovery are slim.
What Is Cervical Cancer?
Cervical cancer occurs when abnormal cells develop and
spread in the cervix, the entrance between the vagina and the uterus . This is caused by persistent infection with
the cancer causing human papillomavirus (HPV) .
It is also estimated that up to 80 percent of women will
be infected with HPV at some point in their lives . Majority of HPV infections
may come and go , some may clear spontaneously within two years , however if
the immune system is weak, the HPV infections may persist and may eventually
lead to the development of cervical cancer .
While HPV is primarily transmitted via sexual
intercourse, skin-to-skin genital contact is also a recognized mode of
transmission , , . Lifestyle changes can help prevent the development of
cervical cancer, such as being conscientious about one’s sexual activities.
Beyond regular consultations and pap smears by your OB-GYN, vaccines that protect
against cancer-causing HPV are also now readily available.
Who is at risk?
The incidence of cancer-causing HPV infection is actually
highest at the young ages of 15-19 . One
is at a greater risk of cervical cancer if one had her first sexual intercourse
at a young age; have given birth for multiple times; have or have had sexually
transmitted diseases; have HIV or whose immune system is weakened; a smoker;
long-term use of oral contraceptives for 5 years or more and those who rarely
or have not yet had any pap smear .
The World Health Organization Strategic Advisory Group of
Experts (WHO-SAGE) on Immunization reiterates the importance of getting young
girls protected through HPV immunization before their first exposure to HPV
(i.e. before sexual contact), as young as 9 years old , .
For older women, the risk of persistent infection with
cancer-causing HPV (which is necessary for cervical cancer to develop)
increases with age, and is highest when a woman is over 66 years old . Thus, screening is recommended starting age
21 to detect cervical abnormalities that precede actual cervical cancer. Studies further show that vaccination remains
to be beneficial for older women to prevent HPV infections .
Power Over Cervical Cancer
In commemoration of Cervical Cancer Awareness Month,
research-based pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) furthers its
advocacy to increase cervical cancer awareness efforts with the Power Over
Cervical Cancer “You Can & You Will” campaign.
The campaign aims to encourage Filipinas to realize that
they have the power to protect themselves and their dreams—simply by consulting
their doctors and asking about ways to prevent cervical cancer.
“An ounce of
prevention is better than a pound of cure. Getting cancer may be a distant concept
for women who are well and at their prime, but they should be aware that even
the healthiest can be at risk,” says, Dr. Leah Manio, GSK Medical Affairs
Manager.
In the Philippines, it is estimated that the financial
cost of preventing cervical cancer through screening and vaccination could be
20 times more affordable than the cost of treatment ,” she adds.
“The power to
protect yourself from cervical cancer is in your hands, and NOW is the best
time to consult with your physician and have yourself screened,” Dr. Manio
stated.
GSK remains true to its commitment of increasing access
to preventive healthcare through its initiatives to improve access to
information through its disease awareness efforts.
To know more about cervical cancer, visit the Power Over
Cervical Cancer Page on Facebook (www.facebook.com/POCCPh) and the Pangarap Mo,
Protektado page on Youtube (www.youtube.com/ProteksyonPortal) containing
information and short films conveying how protecting oneself against
vaccine-preventable diseases is one important step in the achievement of one’s
dreams.
ABOUT GSK
GSK is one of the world’s leading, research-based
pharmaceutical companies with the mission to improve the quality of human life
by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer. At the core of
GSK’s business model is the use of knowledge and development of intellectual
property. We create value by researching, manufacturing and making available
products that improve people’s health and well-being. A healthier society
enables people to live life to the fullest, allowing them and their communities
to prosper. A sustained flow of innovative products enables our business to
grow and replenish our value to patients and consumers.
GSK manufactures and distributes more than four billion
packs of products to 150 countries around the world. With this extensive global
presence, GSK is striving to make our products as widely accessible as
possible.
To increase access to GSK products in the world’s
least-developed countries, we have held prices of our patented medicines in
this region at no more than 25% of our developed-world prices and we reinvest
one-fifth of the profits we make from sales in these territories back into
local healthcare infrastructure projects.
Our vaccines business is one of the largest in the world,
developing, producing, and distributing over 1.9 million vaccines everyday to
people across the world. In 2015, we distributed more than 600 million doses to
over 150 countries. We believe that the protection from life-threatening
diseases provides opportunities for improved healthcare, not just for
individuals but for the communities in which they live.
Over the last forty years, the medicines, vaccines, and
devices we have developed, together with insights from our scientific programs
and our collaboration with healthcare professionals, have played a fundamental
role in improving disease understanding and patient management.
For further information, please visit www.gsk.com.
For further information about cervical cancer, please
consult your doctor
Kindly forward all adverse events and product complaint
to GSK Philippines via these contact details:
Adverse events: ph.safety@gsk.com or 0917 8890640;
For product complaint: 0917 8897050
PH/CCA/0001/16 | May 2016
A health
service message brought to you by
GlaxoSmithKline Philippines Inc.
2266 Chino Roces Avenue, City of Makati 1231
Tel no. (632) 892 0761
© 2015 GSK group of companies
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