A cervical-cancer-free future for every Filipina

Did you know that there are only two vaccines that can prevent cancer?
 
One of these is the Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine which protects our bodies against cervical cancer—a fairly recent medical development, and a much-needed breakthrough for women’s health. 

Globally, cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer for women. The World Health Organization said that in 2020, cervical cancer caused 342,000 deaths. Additionally, 90% of these occurred in low- and middle-income countries—which, sadly, is what our country is currently classified as.

In the Philippines, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer for Filipinas. Annually, almost 8,000 women are diagnosed with the disease. And every day, there are 11 of us mothers, sisters, daughters, and friends who are taken by cervical cancer. Clearly, there is a need to protect each other from this disease. How can we accomplish this?

In a recent episode of Okay, Doc, I took the opportunity to talk to doctors, pharmacists, and experts about the HPV vaccine. Our guests were unanimous about the facts: cervical cancer is highly preventable, and the HPV vaccine is safe.

With cancer being the third leading cause of death in our country, almost all of us, unfortunately, know someone who has been diagnosed or has passed away due to this disease. It could be a family member, a friend, or a coworker — the closer the patient is to our lives, the more we feel their pain. And within families, the pain comes with the additional burden of treatment, which can affect us emotionally, psychologically, and financially. 

To save our loved ones from such trials in the future, our course of action should be to protect ourselves today. Dr. Stephanie Mesina-Veneracion, one of our guests, encouraged viewers about the efficacy of the vaccine, revealing that even those already diagnosed with cervical cancer can still take the vaccine to help with their treatment.
 
And compared to the cost of treatment that follows cervical cancer diagnosis, the HPV vaccine also protects us from taking a significant financial hit, Dr. Veneracion added.

Meanwhile, our next guest, Dr. Cybele Lara Abad, helped us clarify misconceptions about