I have a little knowledge about Cervical Cancer, all I know is that its a disease that targeted women, and thats it. This may not be something that could affect the male species, but somehow could be indirectly threaten us most specially if you’ve found out someone you knew has it. That is why gathering information, knowing and learning how to prevent it could be a good way in helping out yourself indirectly, and your love ones most specially.
GSK, in partnership with ABS-CBN Foundation, BayaniJuan, and local medical societies, Bravehearts and Healthway, launches new campaign to raise cervical cancer awareness. Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in the country, with an estimated 4,800 mothers, daughters, wives, and girl friends diagnosed each year.[1] Every day, there are 12 Filipino women who die from this disease1, which is preventable through regular screening and vaccination.
Cervical cancer is caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), most commonly spread through sexual contact. It may lay undetected for as long as 10 years as women infected with HPV may show no signs and symptoms.[2] At this very moment, an estimated 10,000 to 25,000 women are said to be undiagnosed cases.
The good news is that cervical cancer can be prevented through regular medical consultation, screening and vaccination, which may reduce the risk by as much as 94%.[3] Locally, HPV vaccines may be administered as early as the age of 9, which may prevent Filipino women from being part of the alarming statistics that report 270,000 cervical cancer deaths per year worldwide.[4]
To raise awareness about the need for protection, pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) partnered with the ABS-CBN Foundation to encourage more Filipino women to protect themselves against cervical cancer.
Lending their voice to this urgent call to action are popular female personalities who show their whole-hearted support for this campaign called X Means Love. The advocacy aims to reach out to Filipino women and their families, to encourage preventive measures against cervical cancer.
Actress, singer and host Toni Gonzaga leads the campaign, together with mother-and-daughter tandem Janella Salvador and Janine Desiderio, and TV news correspondents Ginger Conejero and Marie Lozano took time off from their busy schedules to talk about the importance of cervical cancer prevention, which empowers the women of today to fight this killer cancer.
X Means Love advocates with the GSK Philippines Family and Bravehearts Coalition of the Philippines.
From left to right: Eric King (GSK’s Head of Procurement and Admin Services), Anna Leah Favia (Senior Product Manager), Dr. Carmen Nievera (Infectious Disease Specialist and GSK’s Associate Medical Director), Catherine Babao (GSK’s Corporate Communications Manager), Abbygale Arenas – de Leon (Bravehearts Coalition of the Philippines President), Kristel Guce (GSK’s Senior Product Manager), Marie Lozano (ABS-CBN’s New Reporter and X Means Love Advocate), Ginger Coronejo (ABS-CBN’s News Reporter and X Means Love Advocate), Loreanne Villanueva (GSK’s Marketing Manager), Jenine Desiderio (Celebrity, X Means Love Advocate), Glendale Binalla (GSK’s Commercial Program Office for Adult Vaccines), Francis del Val (GSK’s President and General Manager – Pharmaceutical Philippines), Atty. Mailyn Ocampo (GSK’s Director for Legal and External Affairs)
The symbolic X on their arms illustrates the need to cross out cervical cancer as a health threat, not only to themselves, but to their families, friends and loved ones too. The campaign seeks to show that, for more Filipino women , cervical cancer prevention means showing love for family, friends, and self so that they may live life to the fullest without having to worry about cervical cancer.
[1] Philippines Cancer Facts and Estimates 2005: 11, DOH – PCCR and RMC
[2] McIntosh, Noel.. Human Papillomavirus and Cervical Cancer 2000; Paper #8.
[3] International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics vol 94,suppl I Nov 2006. ps66.
[4] Bosch FX and Sanjose S., J Natl Cancer Inst Monogr 2003: 31: 3-13
