FREE CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING AT MANILA MEDICAL CENTER

 

ATTENTION: WOMEN:

As we continue to strive for gender equality and women's empowerment, it is essential to prioritize women's health and well-being. One crucial aspect of women's health that often goes overlooked is cervical screening. Cervical cancer is a leading cause of death among women worldwide, but it is also one of the most preventable cancers through regular screenings.

Therefore, Manila Medical Center is pleased to invite all women in our community to a free cervical screening event. This event aims to raise awareness about the importance of early detection and prevention of cervical cancer. By attending this screening, you can take proactive steps towards safeguarding your health and well-being.

In celebration of Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, ManilaMed's Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology offers a 𝐅𝐑𝐄𝐄 𝐂𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠, from May 20, 2024, to May 24, 2024 at ManilaMed OB-Gyne Service OPD, Mezzanine Floor.

For appointment scheduling, contact (02) 8523 8131 local 2355

Their dedicated team of healthcare professionals will provide confidential and compassionate care during the screening process. We understand that discussing reproductive health can be sensitive, but rest assured that your privacy and comfort are our top priorities.

Don't miss this opportunity to prioritize your health and well-being. Join us at our free cervical screening event and take control of your reproductive health. Together, we can work towards a healthier future for all women in our community.

May is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month: FREE CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING

Did you know that 12 Filipino women die from Cervical Cancer every day despite of it being a preventable disease through screening and vaccination? So what actually causes Cervical Cancer? The experts says that 100% of all Cervical Cancer cases are caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). Moreover, a total of 50% sexually active individuals will catch HPV during their lifetime. Unfortunately, 6,000 Filipinas are diagnosed with Cervical Cancer annually while more than half will die in five years. 

The following are considered risk factors for Cervical Cancer: 

* Multiple sexual partners

* Intercourse at a very young age

* Smoking

* Risky Sexual Behaviors

Early stages of cervical cancer do not have symptoms but late stages may have to suffer from abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding. The question is how can women protect themselves? Women can protect themselves by means of sexual abstinence, a monogamous marriage/relationship, regular screening and checkup and for young adolescent girls ages 10-14 years old, cervical cancer vaccination. 

Here's a piece of GOOD NEWS! Since the month of May is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, This month of May, the Department of Health will be holding FREE Cervical Cancer screenings for women aged 21 years old and above at DOH-retained hospitals nationwide. Screenings will be offered to the public every Wednesday in Metro Manila, every Friday in Luzon, every Tuesday in Visayas and every Thursday in Mindanao. To find the nearest hospital near you, visit http://www.2.doh.gov.ph/doh_retained_hospital.html

For more information about the said screening, call +632- 651-7800 locals 1751 and 1752.

To know more about Cervical Cancer and other HPV-related diseases, go to www.mahalagaka.com.

For my blog readers' convenience, I have here a list of the hospitals where you can go to and inquire about the FREE CERVICAL CANCER SCREENINGS. 

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

So, what are you waiting for? Take advantage of these FREE CERVICAL CANCER SCREENINGS and head for the nearest hospital within your area. Prevention is way better than cure. It's best to have your screenings done early than be sorry later on.

Disclaimer: I am not compensated for this post. Opinions expressed are 100% my own.

360 Degrees Protection: POGS Immunization for Filipino Women and fight against Cervical Cancer

Sickness and disease come unexpectedly. Nowadays, it is but practical to prioritize overall great health over simply acquiring a beach-ready-body. Women's health is a top priority especially with mothers--because it is she who takes good care of her entire family. Healthier women leads to healthier Moms and babies. When one is afflicted with a serious illness such as cancer, the entire family gets affected. It will become the family's battle against the Big C. Cervical cancer is the 2nd most common cancer worldwide for women. In the country alone, over 7,000 new cases are reported each year. The thing with cervical cancer is that it is a silent killer because it doesn't show much symptoms or signs--so one never knows she had them until she goes through the screening process and see her physician. That is truly alarming aside from the fact that the Philippines has one of the lowest 5 year survival rates in the world (Philippine Cancer Facts and Estimates 2005). The good news is women actually have the power over cancer. The key is for us to become aware, seek the right information and become vigilant. I knew a friend who was hesitant to get a cervical cancer vaccination because she didn't understand the need for it. But after she went to a forum on cervical cancer, she immediately got the HPV shots. Health is important and it is truly up to us on how we can improve our lives through early preventive measures. 

In the recent annual convention of the Philippine Obstetricians and Gynecologists Society (POGS), the doctors had stressed the significance of early detection and prevention through pap smear and vaccination. The Human Papillomavirus or HPV, is the necessary cause of cervical cancer. HPV is a common virus that's easily transmitted. All women are at risk regardless of age, lifestyle or economic status. HPV can be transmitted not only by engaging in sexual intercourse, but also from mere skin-to-skin contact of genital area (even without penetration). 

The vaccine is effective in protecting women from at least two types of HPV, which are responsible for over 70 percent of cervical cancer cases in Asia. GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) also offered the cervical bivalent vaccine that enhances the immune response and offers longer protection against cancer-causing types of HPV. Getting vaccinated can reduce the risk of developing cervical cancer by 94%. 

HPV vaccination is currently not a part of the DOH's public health programs such as Expanded Program for Immunization and Cancer Control Program. But the DOH has established a Cervical Cancer Screening Program, it is a nationwide program that includes sustainable capability building, educating, training health workers on servical cancer screening methods like VIA, pap smear, etc.

As of the time being, they are still in the process of proposing that the government  must support the plan of including the HPV vaccines to become part of the expanded program of the Department of Health so that the public can avail them for free in local health centers. 

Dr. Carmen Quivero says that immunization is one of the most effective primary health care services. There is a need to fill a gap in such service for adolescents and adults, and the POGS is pushing through its immunization for filipino women. Guided which vaccination will be helpful to women, they came up with the recommendation and the creation of the vaccine wheel. The creation is the Clinical Practice Guidelines on Immunization for Filipino women and it also represents the continuing efforts of POGS to fulfill its advocacy. 

According to Dr. Susan Nagtalon, with around 3,300 members, from treatment to prevention, the POGS had been doing its best to further improve and get updates on scientific and medical breakthroughs as well as their knowledge in obstetric and gynecological cases, educate more people against teenage pregnancy, give more information, lecture on topics for other health concerns, increase illness awareness and protection in all women. The POGS also do community services and outreach even in the most remote areas or island of the country. The POGS fellows focused about topics that affect the women's well-being. Health issues are discussed in the open, they do their best to communicate as expeditiously as possible to all concerned Filipinos. If we protect women, we protect the child and prevent a family disease within the household. We provide protection to a certain number of people including the extended family.

With diseases and other lifestyle related health problems increasing in number, reach and intensity, POGS aims to increase women's awareness to continue to promote women's health as everyone's concern. Information is power. And it pays to become vigilant! Stay alert when it comes to your health. What may seem like ordinary symptoms could point to something serious.