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Real Women Power: Overcoming a killer
A quarter million women die from this strange cancer cum sexually transmitted disease. But this should not be the case for cervical cancer. The recent developments in medical science in this area represent one of the most groundbreaking there is in humankind’s war against cancer.
In the 1990s, “Women Power” became a catch phrase that signified increasing gender equality in many aspects of society (women’s rights, the workplace, etc.). And yet, in the 21th century, 250,000 women die from cervical cancer every year. Locally, the cancer claims 12 Filipinas every day. The bigger tragedy is: While most cancers are difficult to prevent, cervical cancer is almost 100% preventable. Hopefully, by the time you finish reading, you would have gained real “women power”— the power to protect yourself from a serial killer called cervical cancer.
A Slice of Orange is a newsletter designed to help clarify basic health information and offer juicy tips on uplifting your health.
Editorial team Alvin Delfin Christine Llenes Voltz Olea, MD
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Surveying cervical cancer Cervical cancer is a malignant tumor of the cervix uteri, the lower portion or “neck” of a woman’s uterus that seals off the uterus from the outside world and the vaginal area.
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to cervical cancer prevention, this is a winnable war—medical science has found the single important cause of cervical cancer. Human papilloma virus (HPV)
Most cases of cervical cancer present with no symptoms until the late stages. Symptoms of cervical cancer include vaginal bleeding, including vaginal bleeding after sexual intercourse. Some women can feel a mass in their cervix, but this is rare since the cervix is buried deep inside the vagina. Once diagnosed, cervical cancer can be treated through a variety of methods, depending on the stage or extent of the disease. As a general rule, the earlier the cancer is treated, the higher the chance of the patient surviving. For early stages, a hysterectomy (removal of the whole uterus including part of the vagina) or other surgical procedures can be performed. For more advanced cancer, radiation therapy or chemotherapy may be done, but both of these treatments have debilitating side effects. The contagious cancer Knowing that cervical cancer treatment is risky, can lead to infertility, and has no guarantee, prevention is still the best way to fight cervical cancer. And when it comes
As it turns out, cervical cancer is caused by a virus! The culprit is the sexually transmitted virus called the human papilloma virus, or HPV. It is transmitted through direct contact, such as sexual contact. The virus invades the cells of the cervix, and alters the cell’s DNA. This makes the cell more likely to be transformed into cancerous cells by carcinogens (cancer-causing substances) such as cigarette smoke or radiation. There are at least 150 types or strains of HPV. Of these, 15 are classified as highrisk types (high risk of causing cervical cancer. Types 16 and 18 cause about 70% of cervical cancer cases. Together with type 31, they are the prime risk factors for cervical cancer.
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Currently, there are two kinds of vaccines that can protect a woman against HPV. One vaccine protects against HPV types 6, 11, 16 and 18.
The other one was designed to protect against HPV strains 16 and 18. Interestingly, this vaccine seems to also protect against 12 other cancer-causing HPV types, including HPV strain 45, the third most common cancer-causing type in the Philippines. This vaccine offers a protection of up to approximately 7 years, the longest protection from cervical cancer by a vaccine ever documented. Sexually active women, young and old, can benefit from HPV vaccines. Other methods of prevention include: • Use of condoms (HPV has been known to cause penile warts and penile cacer)
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• Smoking cessation – Carcinogens from tobacco increase the risk for many cancer types, including cervical cancer. • Diet rich in fruits and vegetables – Higher levels of vegetable con- sumption were associated with a 54% decrease risk of HPV persistence. Consumption of papaya at least once a week was inversely associated with persistent HPV infection. Cervical cancer screening The Pap smear (or Papanicolau test) is a form of secondary screening, meaning it does not prevent the disease, but it detects the disease early for earlier treatment (and consequently, better treatment results). Revisit A Slice of Orange March 2009 issue for more on cancer screening. In a Pap smear, samples of the cells of the cervix are acquired using a swab or other implement. These cells are examined under the microscope to determine if they contain cancerous and pre-cancerous characteristics. These characteristics become visible several years before symptoms or an actual tumor become evident. The Pap smear is a readily available test
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Warty virus
HPV is not a rare virus, but a common one. In addition to cervical cancer, it is also the cause of many kinds of common warts, such as skin warts, vulvar warts, vaginal warts, and cervical warts. available from your OB-GYNE, health clinic, or even your local health center. The American Cancer Society recommends that cervical cancer screening should begin approximately 3 years after the woman became sexually active, and/or no later than 21 years of age. It may be done as frequently as once every year. Other more sensitive tests such as the HPV DNA test that detects HPV DNA even before the virus produces pre-cancerous changes in the cells can be done every 3 years.
A slice of trivia What is the third most common cancer causing HPV strain in the Philippines? Freshen up on your researching skills, e-mail us the answer at orange@activelink-consult. com and win a prize! From those with the correct answer, 40 people will be randomly chosen to receive gift packs from GlaxoSmithKline.
We’ll include the answer in the next issue of A Slice of Orange. Answer to last issue’s question:
How is infectious jaundice transmitted from person to person?
Hepatitis A, also known as infectious jaundice, is transmitted through contaminated food and water. But it is acquired 100 times more frequently than other foodand water-borne diseases such as typhoid fever or cholera.
Looking to enhance your corporate healthcare benefits? E-mail us at benefits@activelink-consult.com. The information in this newsletter is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Consult a doctor for all matters relating to your health, particularly for symptoms that may require diagnosis or medical attention. © 2009 ActiveLink
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The Orange wants to he ar from you! Dying to ask us your health related questio ns? Itching to share your pe rsonal health tips? Want to sugg est topics for future issues? Feel free to contac t us. You can e-m ail our team at orange@activ elink-consult.c om.