DOH encourages women to undergo cervical cancer screening
The Department of Health strongly advised women age 15-45 years old to undergo cervical cancer screening because with early detection the chances of treatment success are higher.
Health experts note that the best way to detect cervical cancer is through a regular pap smear to determine pre-cancer lesions.
In 2005, the Philippine cancer facts and estimates showed that cervical cancer ranks fifth in the list of ten leading causes of cancer deaths for both sexes and ranks second in the ten leading cancer sites among female.
Half of women affected by cervical cancer are between 35 to 55 years old.
Every year, an estimated 6,000 women are diagnosed with this kind of cancer and 4,349 die from the said disease.
Approximately, 12 women die each day due to cervical cancer and about five out of ten women affected with said cancer would die within five years.
Cervical cancer develops due to the following risk factors: human papilloma viral infection, many sexual partners, smoking, multiple pregnancies and having a family history of cervical cancer.
One of its symptoms is abnormal vaginal bleeding such as bleeding after vaginal intercourse and menopause, and bleeding and spotting between menstrual periods that are longer and heavier than usual, and pain during sex.
Another one is unusual discharge from the vagina, which may contain blood and occur between menstrual period or after menopause.
The month of May is Cervical Cancer Awareness month. (PIA)