Free cervical cancer screening at VSMMC

CEBU, Philippines - The Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) will be giving free services for cervical cancer screening for the whole month of May as part of the activity for the Cervical Cancer Awareness Month.

Dr. Belinda Pañares, the head of the OB-GYNE Department of VSMMC, said the hospital encourages women to come to the VSMMC Cervical Prevention Sikap Center to avail of the free services.

“We are only waiting for patients to come. Anybody will be accommodated. No requirements needed. All they need to do is to come and visit our Sikap Center inside VSMMC,” Pañares said, during the AGIO-7 Forum yesterday at the PIA Office.

Aside from the free cervical cancer screening, there will also be a free Pap smear, visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) as well as colposcopy, in case of an abnormal Pap smear result.

According to Pañares, as quoting contents from Philippine Cancer Society, cervical cancer is the second leading illness among women in the country.

An estimated 7,277 new cases and 3, 807 deaths due to cervical cancer are expected to occur every year.

Pañares added that generally all women who have had sexual intercourse are at risk of cervix cancer.

However, rare types of cervical cancer can occur in women who never had any sexual intercourse in their life.

Pañares and VSMMC OB-GYNE specialist Dr. Marybeth Delos Santos discussed the cause of cervical cancer.

Delos Santos said there had been overwhelming evidence that an infectious agent particularly human papiloma virus (HPV) that is transmitted through sexual intercourse causes cancer of the cervix.

Aside from that, among the possible causes of cervix cancer include having multiple sexual partners, had sexual partners (regular or casual) who themselves have several sexual partners, had sexual partner who is infected with HPV and had first sexual intercourse at a very early age, possibly 15 or 16 years old, Delos Santos said.

Delos Santos also said cervix cancer generally does not have symptoms but often, the disease is detected during its advance stage.

However, unusual bleeding from the vagina at any time and unpleasant vaginal discharge can also often lead to cervix cancer.Pañares, on the other hand, said cervical cancer when detected early is curable and at present, the most reliable and practical way to diagnose early cervical cancer is through Pap smear.

A woman’s first Pap smear should be done three years after the first vaginal intercourse, she said.

After that, it should be done every year for three years. If the Pap smear test is negative for the consecutive three years, then it can be done every two or three years.

She said if unmarried women who never had sexual activity in their life, Pap smear should be done at age 35.

Pañares said since there is almost acceptance that cervical cancer is primarily transmitted through sexual intercourse, preventive measures should be followed.

Among the measures suggested include a one-partner sexual relationship between partners, a delay on the first sexual intercourse and use of barrier contraceptives such as condoms during sexual intercourse.

Since their advocacy is to have a cervical cancer free Philippines, both Pañares and Delos Santos encourage women to also undergo or have three shots of the anti-cervical cancer vaccine.

Though each vaccine costs P2,500 or a total of P7,500 will be spent for the three shots.

Pañares said it will already be a lifetime protection for a woman against the deadly disease compared to the more than half a million worth of money to be spent for the treatment of the cervical cancer.

“We advise those 21 to 65 years old, with history of sexual activity, to have cervical cancer screening even if you did not feel anything unusual yet since prevention is better than cure,” Pañares said.

For all women who would like to avail of the free services, one may go directly to VSMMC Sikap Center for the whole month of May, which is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. during Mondays to Fridays or one may call 253-9894 loc 416 and look for Dr. Delos Santos or Dr. Rose Nonay.  (FREEMAN)