PRESS RELEASE

Bravehearts is a multi-sectoral coalition led by the Cervical Cancer Prevention Network (CECAP) and the Cancer Institute Foundation (CIF). It is dedicated to raising awareness on cervical cancer prevention and is currently supported by a growing number of women, including prominent personalities such as Sen. Loren Legarda, Rina Jimenez-David, Ellen Tordesillas, Atty. Gaby Concepcion and Suzi Entrata.

Cervical Cancer is the second most common cancer in women worldwide, with 500,000 new cases and 250,000 deaths reported each year. Over 80% of cases occur in developing countries including the Philippines, where it is ranked as the second most common cancer afflicting Filipino women. Yet few women realize that cervical cancer is actually treatable if diagnosed early.

Three Types of Cervical Cancer Prevention:

Single Visit Approach(SVA). This combines both screening and treatment in one session. It uses an effective, low-resource screening method called the Visual Inspection using Acetic Acid (VIA), a simple technique that uses vinegar to detect precancerous lesions on the cervix and requires much less equipment and time investment than a PAP smear.

Cryotherapy. This is a process where the areas with lesions are frozen using a common liquid coolant like carbon dioxide, effectively eliminating the abnormality and preventing possible progression to cancer.

Vaccination. GSK’s cervical cancer vaccine provides significant protection for women against the two most common cancer-causing human papillomavirus (HPV) types (HPV types 16 and 18) for nearly six and a half years, the longest duration of protection reported to date. In fact, the GSK cervical cancer vaccine does not demonstrate, at the moment, the need for a booster shot even after six years of vaccination. HPV types 16 and 18, together, are responsible for over 70 percent of cervical cancer cases in Asia Pacific. GSK’s cervical cancer vaccine has also shown efficacy against persistent infection caused by 12 other cancer-causing HPV types beyond HPV 16 and 18. Designed for both young and mature women, females from 10 years old onwards can be vaccinated using GSK’s cervical cancer vaccine.

Health is wealth. Investing in our health should be a primary concern. Remember that the quality of life we’ve always wanted depends on it. And speaking of that, I guess I better start saving up for my long overdue general check-up.