-- faLLen aNgeL --

I had my vaccination for cervical cancer last Monday. Cervical cancer is caused by the virus called HPV (human papillomavirus) it is however curable if diagnosed and promptly treated in its early stage. There are more than a hundred types of HPV most of which are harmless. Still, 15 are linked to cervical cancer. The vaccine protects you from the two types that trigger 70% of cervical cancer cases. And even if you have or you've already had HPV ( 80% of women will at some point) data show that the vaccine will still prevent subsequent infections. It also cuts your odds of genital warts, two other types of HPV are responsible for 90% of all cases of genital warts, it is a small, whitish, sometimes itchy bumps that appear on the skin of your pubic region. Though the warts are harmless and eventually go away, they can reappear and are extremely contagious. The vaccine will protect you from these 2 wart causing types.

“It’s really an investment on your health because in the end it is much cheaper to prevent it than to cure it. So I encourage everyone to take advantage of this breakthrough". In the Philippines alone, cancer of the cervix is the second most common known cancer among women. Statistics shows that every year, an estimated 6,000 Filipino women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and more than half of them die of this disease.

From both sides of my parents, I’ve got relatives who were diagnosed and suffered from cancer. I’ve experienced and seen how tough it is to go under treatments one of my Auntie died of cervical cancer. You can avoid it. It really felt like it’s a sin not to take advantage of it because by your mere decision to take the vaccination, you’re not only saving your own life but you’re also saving your family’s life.

The vaccine, a series of three-shots given over six months that can be availed by women ages 10 onwards. However there are Minor side effects that are experienced like serious pain reactions to the actual shot.