Cervical Cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting Singapore women. On first thought being guys, we may be thinking that it certainly has nothing to do with us. However, if we look beyond ourselves, we would realise how cervical cancer is affecting the lives of important and special women in our life and that indirectly affect us too. Thus as a guy, we can empower the important and special women in our life with information that could one day save their life.
According to Power Over Cervical Cancer (POCC), “Cervical Cancer is the 2nd most common female cancer worldwide with 500,000 women diagnosed every year!” In Singapore, about 200 women are detected with cervical cancer and about 100 die from the disease every year, according to Health Promotion Board of Singapore. According to the American Cancer Society estimates for cervical cancer in the United States for 2010, “there would be about 12,200 new cases of invasive cervical and about 4,210 will die from cervical cancer.” It can happen to any women around us!
I believe each and everyone of us can play a vital role in bringing down the numbers by sharing information of cervical cancer with family, friends, associates, colleagues and, as in my case, to strangers as what I am doing through this post.
Cervical cancer is caused by several types of a virus called human papillomaviruses (HPV), which is normally spread through sexual activity. “Most women bodies are able to fight HPV infection. But sometimes the virus leads to cancer,” according to National Institutes of Health (NIH). NIH also states, “Cervical cancer may not cause any symptoms at first, but later, you may have pelvic pain or bleeding from the vagina.” According to the HPB of Singapore, signs or symptoms of cervical cancer may include:
Unusual or foul-smelling discharge from the vagina Blood spots or light bleeding when you are not having your period or after menopause Bleeding or pain during sex
And HPB of Singapore also mentioned that it is possible to have cervical cancer even if you do not experience any of these signs or symptoms.
Who are at risk? According to the HPB FAQ section for cervical cancer,
All women aged between 25 and 69 who:
Ever had sex Had multiple sexual partners Had sexually transmitted infections (STI) e.g. genital warts, genital herpes and HPV infection Smoke
As the saying goes, “Prevention is better than cure!” A woman’s risk of developing cervical cancer can be reduced by having regular pap smears/tests which is an early detection screening program. According to the American Cancer Society,
“Cervical cancer was once one of the most common causes of cancer death for American women. Then, between 1955 and 1992, the cervical cancer death rate declined by almost 70%. The main reason for this change was the increased use of the Pap test. This screening procedure can find changes in the cervix before cancer develops. It can also find cervical cancer early — in its most curable stage.“
Although HPB of Singapore states in their FAQ section that pap smears should be done every 3 years, two of the most important women in my life, my mother and sister, are having their pap smears done almost on a yearly basis. Are the important women in your life having their pap smears done regularly already? Have you done yours?
Regardless of where you are in the world, together, we can empower the important and special women in our life over cervical cancer! Just simply by sharing information on cervical cancer, We Have the Power to Save Lives! You can find out more on how to reduce the risk of developing cervical cancer from the website of POCC.
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Power Over Cervical Cancer is a campaign that aims to make Singapore the country with the lowest incidence of Cervical Cancer and they need your help to spread the word. Pledge your support for this cause and protect those you care about by telling them about Cervical Cancer. Together, we have POWER Over Cervical Cancer. Click the button below to begin!
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I think that speaks a lot about having multiple sex partner. Nevertheless this can happened to anyone too. My support goes with this.
Thanks BK for your words of encouragement.
.-= VanillaSeven´s last blog ..My Blog has died- and rose again =-.
@ VanillaSeven, that is probably one part of it. Apparently, according to the website of POCC, as long as a woman started being sexually active, she could be at risk of HPV. Thank you for the support.
Great post for a deserving cause.
The girlfriend of one of our employees is going in Monday to have a tumor off her cervix. I’m not sure if she had kept her paps up or not, but they are very important for sure!!
xo
.-= Jannie Funster´s last blog ..What HTML Coding Has Taught Me Thus Far — a poem =-.
@ Jannie, sending positive thoughts to your employee’s girlfriend; it will all turn out great. I couldn’t agree with you more on this; my mother and sister are doing pap smears every year.
A good way to bring awareness to a serious issue.
As far as guys go, all of us have women in our lives, so this issue effects us all.
I forget just how important paps are, especially since I HATE getting them done! Thanks for this post, now Im going to schedule an appointment with my OBGYN! 🙂
.-= meleah rebeccah´s last blog ..Happy 4th Anniversary- Momma Mia Mea Culpa =-.
@ One of the Guys, you couldn’t be more right; all of us have women in our lives who are very important and special to us, so this issue will surely affect us too.
@ Meleah, I believe no women will really like this kind of test. However, it could be a life saver. Go get your appointment with your OBGYN. 🙂
Cervical Cancer is also one of the common cancers here in malaysia!! I totally agree that preventions is better than cure! This reminded me that i need to do my paps! Thank you so much for this reminder and very informative article! Have a lovely merry happy day and love to yoU!
.-= jacqueline´s last blog ..pardon me =-.
@ Jacqueline, what I am glad about this is that with regular check and early detection, life would be saved. It is important to have the paps done. Wishing you a lovely merry happy day and love to you and yours!
I guess this is something we can’t afford to be negligent about. It’s rather difficult when someone you love dearly is battling with diseases. We should be well informed to survive this.
.-= life ramblings´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday – Ornate doors in Salzburg Museum =-.
Thanks for sharing this and reminding us of a very real danger.
Have a nice day!
.-= veronica lee´s last blog ..Soups =-.
@ Life Ramblings, I agree with you that it is rather difficult when someone dear is battling with diseases.
@ Veronica, you are most welcome. Have a great day!
Important information! Thanks so much for posting.
.-= Nicole´s last blog ..Almost Wordless Wednesday =-.
@ Nicole, thank you.
Dearest BK, came by to wish you a good start of the week! Have a lovely merry happy day and love to you!
.-= jacqueline´s last blog ..Cuteness does the trick =-.
@ Jacqueline, thank you for dropping by. I will be heading to KL today! 🙂
Wishing you a lovely merry happy day and love to you!
Arent most men wishes their women died of early cervical cancers so that they can walk down the aisle twice or thrice or at their wish???!!!
.-= housewife9988´s last blog ..Pamelo =-.
@ Housewife9988, I strongly believe that it is not the wish of most men that their wife died early so that they can walk down the aisle twice or thrice or at their wish; at least around me, I can easily quote a dozen men, who are my friends, that they definitely don’t have this kind of wish. And I believe that it is a common goodness in people that we don’t go about wishing someone dies early. What you had mentioned has never come across my mind. I don’t know why did you say that and under what circumstances, but I truly wish for goodness in all areas of your life and that you can find peace within yourself.
I had no idea that this was the 2nd most common cancer in women, I’m shocked. Looks like I’m not high risk, but I guess I’d better get better about those screenings since my husband and kids need me and I sure don’t plan on going anywhere any time soon. Thanks for sharing this important information.
.-= Tina T´s last blog ..Why Women Stay With Men Who Won’t Marry Them =-.
Dearest BK, miss you here on blog land! I hope all is well and everything is great for you. Have a lovely merry happy week and love to you!
.-= jacqueline´s last blog ..Ive been known to get distracted =-.
@ Tina, you are most welcome. Prevention is better than cure. We do have to take care of our loved ones around us.
@ Jacqueline, it has been pretty hectic here at the moment. Thank you for dropping by and checking up on me. Have a lovely merry happy week and love to you too.