I’m in the board of the PGH Cancer Institute Foundation and one of our programs is to disseminate information about cancer because just like in any endeavor, education helps in prevention.
On Aug. 5, from 8 a.m. to 12 noon there will be a “Cervical Cancer Prevention Network Program” at the Asian Hospital and Medical Center, 4th floor training room.
This program is in cooperation with UP-PGH-Cancer Institute, the Office of Muntinlupa Congressman Rozzano Rufino B. Biazon, and Muntinlupa City Health Office.
The program will include lectures on “The Cervical Cancer Burden of the Philippines” byDr. Genara Limson, “What is Cervical Cancer?The carcinogenesis/Screening for Early Detection/Cost” byDr. Aina sales-Diaz, “Diagnosis/Risk Factors/Stages/Treatment/Cost” by Dr. John Zamora, “The SVA for cervical cancer prevention” by Dr. Ma. Julieta Germar, “Vaccination in Women and HPV Vaccines” by Dr. Guada Villanueva, “Healthy Lifestyle for cancer Prevention” by Dr. Cecilia Ladines-Llave, and “The Muntinlupa Women Health’s program” by Mayor Jaime R. Fresnedi and Dr. Magdalena C. Meana.
A few months ago, a friend asked me for money to contribute to a sick child in the Philippines who needed chemo treatment for her cancer. I started a fundraising for the child but none would be kind enough to give. I gave on my own a few dollars for the chemo treatment, but it made me really angry that the parents of the child could not ask for welfare from the government even just on consideration for the fact that the mother used to work in KSA as a domestic helper I guess, but had to come back because she was unlucky to be under abusive employers. I was so angry because even then there was no OWWA fund to which she could apply for welfare.
I’ve heard of the predicament of indigent patients of PGH likewise, and I wanted in fact to help in any fundraising for that hospital that it could still do charity for indigent families. I actually asked Ka Mentong (Herman T, Laurel) to check on the charity being broadcasted by Filipinos on the Internet as I wanted to make sure that it as nothing fraudulent.
I wonder, Ellen, if indigent cancer patients in the Philippines are being amply helped at the PGH.
Where I live children are given special health cards that privilege them to be checked periodically and cured when they are ill free of charge from childbirth to 18 years of age. The age of majority is 20 years old but from 18, with special permit, they are allowed to do parttime or fulltime daytime work. They are not allowed to work where liquor is served and not after 11 p.m.
Cancer is still one among the top causes of death, along with heart disease, and both can be avoided and prevented by not smoking and quitting if already in a habit. Doing so, is not only saving your own, but also people around you, since it is already established that second hand smoke is just as dangerous.
I was a two pack-a day habit, when the govt. taxed cigarettes to the hilt and I decided not to pay anymore taxes. So, twenty years ago or so, decided to quit cold turkey, kind of hard, but with the support of co-employees (we did a group support quitting at work), have not pooped a stick since. And except for damn cholesterol and urate, my doctor gives me a clean bill every three months, when I go for check ups. And since smoking is no longer allowed in any public places in Ontario inhaling somebody’s “smoke” no longer a possibility. My advice…never too late to quit..
Just FYI, there’s a drug now to prevent cervical cancer. It’s still being approved by the USFDA and Canada. The problem is that this preventive drug is to be taken by young girls before they reach puberty to be effective. That’s the debate going on right now whether it’s morally correct to push this at this time.
Here’s the latest study about cancer, in a nutshell.
1. Cancer cells are already present in our bodies from the time we were born, being genetic in nature. It is weak in some, and strong in others. That is why new born babies may get cancer even before they are exposed to known carcinogens. It’s inherited.
2. Cancer cell is unique and individual in character, typical of the body it resides in. That is why the experimental drugs so far discovered may be effective to one but not to others.
3. Cancer cells have a natural enemy, the immune system which is also genetic in nature. Also, weak in some, and strong in others. It keeps the cancer cells in check by its immune cells called NKs (short for natural killers) When NK activity weakens- either from old age, poor nutrition, or stress- cancell cells are free to multiply and become tumors.
4. The latest research outside the US is not on drugs, but on substances that will stimulate the patient’s immune system, so tumors are gobbled up by feeding frenzy of NK cells. Only the patient’s own NK cells can do this.
Along the same line of thought, another research is being done in culturing and growing the patient’s NK cells in a laboratory to be re-injected to the patient, do the same job.
Keep your immune system always strong.
npongco, the drug you mentioned was developed by merck and it is a vaccine. It is effective for women between the ages of 9 t0 26. But the vaccine is most effective if applied (series of applications) at ages 11-12 and before the girls become sexually active. I hope the same drug will be available free to all who needs and in the age group. Some clinics in the US already administering the vaccines to high risks patients. Not in Canada yet, since ours is universal and once approved it will be available to all who needs it.
Ano ba talaga ang kaibahan ng vaccine at drug? Puwede ba sa lalaki iyan? Hindi kaya si unano may cervical cancer kaya palaging masakit ang tiyan?
Hindi yata mahilig ang bansot briade (BB) sa cancer info center kasi master nila ang cancer ng bayan.
Yuko, thanks for your big heart.
As I mentioned above, I’m in the board of the UP-PGH-Cancer Institute Foundation.It’s a non-government organization whose main purpose is to provide patients of indigent families admitted at the Cancer Institute and other institutions accredited by the Institute medical and financial assistance.
We are always, of course, short of finances considering the many indigent cancer patients. We are planning a major fund raising this year to augment our finances. First of all, we have to have our own website so donors can easily access information about the Institute and our actvities. We are working on it.
I will be asking your help later. Thanks.
Npongco, the vaccine for cervical cancer is Gardasil.
You may check out these postings last June 11:Here and here.
This maybe off-topic pero bakit nga ba laging maysakit si bansot? Ano ba talaga ang sakit niya? Hindi kaya cancer din? Bakit ba siya mukhang manas? Kasi ang alam ko kung ngakaroon ang isang tao ng flu….tiyak bababa ang timbang dahil halos hindi makakain habang nilaglagnat lalo na kung kung may kasamang ubo. Pero sa kano niya, lalo siyang namamaga?
sorry, wrong spelling—it should be read- Pero sa kaso niya, lalo siyang namamaga?
I suspect she has a colon cancer. Let’s all pray it’s true.
Look at Cuba’s Fidel Castro. Cuba is even a Communist nation and yet Castro’s illness and surgery was announced. Why can’t Gloria if she indeed has serious illness?