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Friday, March 29, 2024

Be HPV-free through vaccination

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By Eunice Cabuang 

Dr. Cecilia Llave, former president of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology of the Philippines (SGOP), program director of the Cancer Institute Foundation and the chair of Cervical Cancer Prevention Network, shared an informative talk during the “Sa Aking Paglaki… Walang HPV” press conference about the importance of HPV vaccination in avoiding diseases like cervical cancer. 

Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of death among Filipino women – next only to breast cancer – with an estimated 12 women dying from the disease every day, although most people with HPV do not develop any symptoms of the disease. 

While most cases of HPV infections are cleared up over time, there is a risk of HPV infection becoming chronic and precancerous, which can further develop to cervical cancer. 

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According to the World Health Organization, cervical cancer can be prevented, and diagnosing it early on to provide treatment is critical. 

Llave explained that 99.7 percent of the time, cervical cancer is due to the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) – a virus that is considered to be one of the most common sexually transmitted viral infections. However, it will take 10 to 30 years before it develops into cervical cancer. She further explained that cervical cancer is a disease that can be prevented and treated when diagnosed early.

Cervical cancer can be prevented and treated if diagnosed early 
 

How it can be prevented    

“Vaccination is a modern healthcare solution that brings benefits, so we should take advantage of it as much as possible,” Department of Health Secretary Dr. Janette Loreto-Garin said, adding that there is nothing more tragic than suffering from a disease that could have been prevented through vaccination.

 This is why the DOH is encouraging parents to bring their nine to 10-year-old girls to health clinics to get vaccinated for free this summer.  Similarly, DOH is making the HPV vaccine readily available to more Filipino women.

“We do know now that we have a vaccine which is able to give you that protection from HPV 16 and 18,” Llave said, explaining that HPV 16 and 18 can cause cancer while 6 and 11 can cause ordinary warts that are not cancerous. 

May is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, and this year, the campaign took on greater heights in trying to reach more people through the national immunization program (NIP). 

How is it transmitted? 

HPV infection can be passed on through genital contact usually during sexual intercourse and can also be obtained through oral sex.

“Eighty percent of our men and women can have HPV infection. Nearly all sexually active men and women will get at least one type of HPV at some point in their life,” Llave said.

Sexual activity is inevitable and it is important to look beyond the reality of people engaging in sex and to understand that through vaccination, kids can worry less about getting HPV infection, the doctor stressed.

 

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