What is Cervical Cancer?

Cervical Cancer develops when the normal cells in a woman’s body overcompensate and divide quicker than usual. These cells create a tumor in the cervix which is located at the base of the uterus and the end of the vaginal canal. The primary causes of this disease and the development of abnormal cells are low immunity, smoking, HIV, prolonged oral contraceptive use, and HPV. Women who belong to families with a history of cancer may or may not have an increased chance developing the disease.

This type of cancer is one of the leading causes of death among Filipino women. In 2002, there have been 6,000 cases of Cervical Cancer on record in the Philippines within the female age group of 15 to 24 years old. The country’s mortality rate in 2004 was 11.2%, compared to South-East Asia having 8.4% and 8.9% globally.

*What is HPV?

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is easily transmitted through sexual intercourse or genital contact and is the primary cause of Cervical Cancer. Although the risk is higher for those who have had more than one partners, there is a chance for women who have or have had only one partner to contract HPV. There is a 95% – 99.7% chance for HPV infections to lead to Cervical Cancer, whereas another result may be genital warts. The symptoms of the virus may take a while to surface, if not at all. Therefore, there is a higher risk for people to have HPV and not know it, with a big possibility of passing it on to someone else. Men are most likely to pass on the virus to their partners or wives. The risk is that HPV infection develops in the genital tract in up to 73% of men who are healthy.

Reference: WHO/ICO Information Centre on HPV and Cervical Cancer (HPV Information Centre). Human Papillomavirus and Related Cancers in Philippines. Summary Report 2010. [April 18, 2010]. Available at www.who.int/hpvcentre