Women learn more about cervical cancer

A total of 428 women attended the series of cervical cancer fora organized by the Eduardo J. Aboitiz Cancer Center (EJACC) of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. in celebration of the Cervical Cancer Awareness Month in May.

The fora were held at EJACC last May 7, Mandaue City last May 12, Consolacion, Cebu on May 14, Paradise Village in Mandaue City last May 17 and at the Philippine Postal Office last May 26.

According to the resource speakers composed of doctors, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women. It is associated with sexual activity and one of the causes is the human papilloma virus (HPV), which is transmitted sexually.

The disease can be prevented by maintaining a healthy lifestyle and nutrition, exercise, proper hygiene, avoiding stress and vices, using barrier contraceptives, maintaining monogamous sexual relationships and HPV vaccination.

Cervical cancer can be detected through Pap smear, visual inspection with acetic acid, colposcopy, HPV testing and single visit approach.

It can be treated through surgery, radiation and chemotherapy

Leonides Chiong, one of the participants, said the forum helped her understand more about the disease and answered her fears on the symptoms of cancer.

The fora were in collaboration with the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center OB-GYN Department, She Matters Foundation, Philippine Postal Office and the local government units of Mandaue and Consolacion.

For more information on cervical cancer, contact Gina Mariquit at 254-6351.