If you could stop cancer from touching your family, wouldn’t you?

photo via: media.kiiitv.com

Even a healthy young woman can have a cervical cancer if she is not protected.

In the Philippines , cervical cancer is the second highest killer cancer among women. It is caused by HPV (Human Pappiloma Virus)- a virus that spreads through skin to skin genital contact. HPV infection doesn’t show symptoms, and so most women don’t know that they are at risk until it is too late.

The best protection against this is a combination of regular screening tests, a healthy lifestyle, and a vaccination against HPV.

The standard test to know if you have HPV are:
Pap Smear, HPV DNA test, Chlamydia test, Mammogram and Pelvic Ultrasound

Have you done Pap Smear?

The first time I experienced doing the Pap Smear was 2 years ago, when I suspected that I am pregnant. The Doctor will take a cell sample from your cervix. A special instrument called a speculum is used to help open your vagina so that your doctor can gently swab your cervix to collect the sample of cells.

photo via: flickr

Because that was my first time to experience it, even though my doctor always reminds me to relax, have a deep breath and she will do the rest, it still feels very uncomfortable and painful.  I’m really glad that I’ve got a female obygyne because it would be more uncomfortable if the doctor is a male one.

The sample is then sent to a lab and results should be available after 1-2 weeks.

Before having the pap smear be sure that you don’t have your menstrual period. Also don’t douche, use a feminine deodorant or have sex for 24 hours before the test.

Ask your doctor on how much is the vaccine, because the price depends on how much your doctor will add from the original cost of the supplier (whether it’s a profit or service fee) . You need 3 shots to complete the immunization.

Some say it’s P4,000/shot, others had it for P2,300/shot. Still I’ve heard it’s now down to P1,500/shot.

But eventhough you paid for it at a higher price, the vaccine price is still cheaper than the cost of surgery and chemotherapy if you got HPV. Besides, it can also result in loss of earnings and productivity due to incapacity for 3-12 months after surgery.

To give you an idea, these are the cost of treating HPV if you have it:
Diagnosis and Pre-Treatment Evaluation costs around P15,000- P48,000
Surgery cost around P50,000- P216,000
Chemoradiation cost around P93,000- P265,000

Prevention is still better than cure.

Ask your Doctor for long term cervical cancer prevention TODAY!

Information via: x out cervicalcancer

what ever happens in life we should always remember to live life to the fullest