The Manila Times, Philippines
An expert on Wednesday revealed that teenagers with an active sex life are at high risk of having cervical cancer.
Dr. Gil Gonzales, president of Society of Gynecologic Oncologists of the Philippines, during the press forum of Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, said that early onset of sexual activity can lead to cervical cancer.
He added that all women are at risk for cervical cancer, saying that among the risk factors were early beginning of sexual activity, multiple sexual partners, having sexually transmitted infection, having given birth to three or more children, early onset of first pregnancy (17 years old or younger), smoking and compromised immune system.
"Because of the young age, their [teenagers'] cervix is not yet ready for sexual contacts," he said.
Gonzales also revealed that 12 Filipino women die of cervical cancer everyday and about 6,000 Filipino women are diagnosed with the disease every year, while more than half die in five years.
"Virtually 100 percent of all cancer cases are caused by human papallomavirus or HPV," he said.
According to him, HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection. It is transmitted through skin-to skin-contact.
Gonzales said that HPV may also lead to cancer of the vulva and vagina, cancer of the penis and anal cancer in men, and head and neck cancers and genital warts in both men and women.
Preventions
He added that abstinence from all forms of sexual activity is the best means of prevention while primary prevention includes vaccination against HPV not only for women, but also for men.
Gonzales said that cervical cancer may not present any symptoms until the late deadly stages and since it takes years for the infection to develop into cancer, routine screening through a pap smear is an effective way of helping prevent the disease.
He added that a cheaper but effective alternative is getting screened through visual inspection with acetic acid or vinegar to detect possible pre-cancerous lesions.
The Department of Health is urging all women aged 25 to 50 to undergo free cervical cancer screening in at least 58 DOH hospitals every Wednesday in Metro Manila, every Friday in Luzon, every Tuesday in Visayas and every Thursday in Mindanao.
Dr. Gil Gonzales, president of Society of Gynecologic Oncologists of the Philippines, during the press forum of Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, said that early onset of sexual activity can lead to cervical cancer.
He added that all women are at risk for cervical cancer, saying that among the risk factors were early beginning of sexual activity, multiple sexual partners, having sexually transmitted infection, having given birth to three or more children, early onset of first pregnancy (17 years old or younger), smoking and compromised immune system.
Gonzales also revealed that 12 Filipino women die of cervical cancer everyday and about 6,000 Filipino women are diagnosed with the disease every year, while more than half die in five years.
"Virtually 100 percent of all cancer cases are caused by human papallomavirus or HPV," he said.
According to him, HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection. It is transmitted through skin-to skin-contact.
Gonzales said that HPV may also lead to cancer of the vulva and vagina, cancer of the penis and anal cancer in men, and head and neck cancers and genital warts in both men and women.
Preventions
He added that abstinence from all forms of sexual activity is the best means of prevention while primary prevention includes vaccination against HPV not only for women, but also for men.
Gonzales said that cervical cancer may not present any symptoms until the late deadly stages and since it takes years for the infection to develop into cancer, routine screening through a pap smear is an effective way of helping prevent the disease.
He added that a cheaper but effective alternative is getting screened through visual inspection with acetic acid or vinegar to detect possible pre-cancerous lesions.
The Department of Health is urging all women aged 25 to 50 to undergo free cervical cancer screening in at least 58 DOH hospitals every Wednesday in Metro Manila, every Friday in Luzon, every Tuesday in Visayas and every Thursday in Mindanao.
