The Threat of a Silent Killer of Men

The cancer that kills one man every nineteen minutes and a new case is discovered worldwide shows no early warning signs until it's too late. In the country, Prostate Cancer(PCa) is one of the leading causes of deaths among Filipino men.

Alarmed by this threat,Healthway Medical and pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline(GSK) joined hands to promote prostate health awareness and battle the increasing cases of PCa. They are staging the biggest drive to conduct  Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) Tests to give men more opportunity to take charge of their health. From June 26, - July 2, 2010, Healthway will offer 30% discount on PSA tests to men aged 50 and above. GSK will be providing 500 coupons to men for a free PSA test to selected urologists in Metro Manila. These coupons can be redeemed at any Healthway Clinic and Sta. Lucia Health Care Center in Metro Manila.

Facts about PCa:

Risk factors for developing PCa includes family history, age, race/ethnicity, obesity/diabetes, prostate volume, diet, alcohol/smoking, others(occupational and UV exposure, sexual behavior).

The good news is that at-risk candidates can now be identified by simple screening methods. Treatment options may include, active surveillance, surgery, radio therapy, hormonal therapy.

We men should not be bothered to see ourselves undergoing treatment if ever we have PCa but should be more bothered that it may not only affect us but people we care for.

No Woman Caught Unaware

Tick-tock. 2 hours have passed. A woman has just died from its deathly grip.

Tick-tock. In 2 more hours, one more Filipina will perish. And when the day is over, 12 would have fallen victim.

If you are a woman, take heed. Because this serial female killer is out there, waiting to strike. All around the world, it has killed millions of women already – and will likely kill the millions more who remain unaware that they could be the next target of this fatal female disease known as cervical cancer. 

According to the Department of Health, cervical cancer is considered the second most common female cancer in the Philippines today. An estimated 7,277 new cases are reported every year – a number that is said to inaccurately represent the whole population, considering that the surveys to determine the estimate were conducted only in Rizal, Cebu, and Davao. In any case, more than half of this number will die because of the disease within 5 years, simply because women are uneducated on how to protect themselves from the disease. 

An occurrence where the normal cells of the cervix turn cancerous, cervical cancer is usually caused by a chronic and persistent cancer-causing type of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection that leads to pre-malignant lesions that progress to cancer. Because the condition may take ten to thirty years to happen, there is a large window of opportunity to screen, detect, and diagnose the lesions before it becomes malignant. Visual Inspection of the cervix with Acetic Acid (VIA) and Pap smear help identify these lesions.  

But more than detection, prevention is also possible – using a relevant and effective vaccine that specifically targets the cause of cervical cancer, which is HPV, particularly types 16 and 18. 

Cervical Cancer Fact Sheet 

Cervical Cancer by the Numbers

• 2   Cervical Cancer is the second biggest cause of female mortality globally
• 510, 000  World Health Organization’s (WHO) estimate of new cervical cancer cases annually worldwide
• 288, 000  yearly deaths around the world because of cervical cancer, according to WHO
• 80  percent of cervical cancer cases found in developing countries in the world
• 245, 000 estimated number of new cervical cancer cases found in Asia every year 

• 7, 277  estimated new cervical cancer cases every year in the Philippines according to survey done in Rizal, Cebu, and Davao by Department of Health (DOH)
• 12 estimated number of deaths (daily) in the Philippines due to cervical cancer
• 35 the age to start getting a Pap smear for women who have not engaged in vaginal intercourse
• 200 number of Human Papilloma Viruses (HPV) acknowledged to exist
• 15 number of HPV types said to be high-risk (cancer-causing)
• 16 & 18 HPV types which cause 70% of cervical cancer cases
• 45 3rd most common cancer-causing HPV types which is prevalent among Filipinas

The clock is ticking. But with regular screening, cervical cancer vaccination and a healthy lifestyle, women can save themselves from cervical cancer before it’s too late. The next one could be someone you know. Could be your mother, daughter, grandmother, relative, or anyone close to you.

A public service announcement by GlaxoSmithKline(GSK)

GSK supports the advocacy to promote the welfare of women in prevention of cervical cancer.

No To Crumpled Dreams

Last April 29, a campaign,"No To Crumpled Dreams" was launched by Dream Builders, a group of mothers whose aim is to give the best preventive health care to for every Filipino. Together with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Dream Builders strive to fight the cause of death among Filipino children-- Pneumoccocal Diseases or PDs. With this campaign, Dream Builders will try to prevent PDs from destroying lives of the children by promoting awareness to the parents.

 PDs affects children under the age of two. Children dies of PDs because they weren't able to received preventive measures when they contracted the diseases when they were two years of age

In order to sustain this advocacy, the Dream Builders and GSK in partnership with Powerplant Mall, organized an exhibit of artwork by Ma. Isabel Lopez, Evangeline Pascual, Jao Mapa and original bags and accessories by Banglos and more. The exhibit items were sold and the proceeds will go to the Dream Builders. The event was hosted by Amy Perez.

Works by Ma. Isabel Lopez(2nd from the right) with Evangeline Pascual(2nd from the left)

Evangeline Pascual

Jao Mapa(not present during the event)

Banglos

Rags to Riches

Benjamin Cabrera(not present) 

"No to Crumpled Dreams" is the first among the many campaigns that the Dream Builders will lead in order to battle these threats against health of Filipino children.

The Dream Builders are composed of medical professionals and mothers wanted to stop the spread of PDs in the country. They work hand in hand with local institutions and GSK in order to spread awareness and proper prevention against PDs.

You too can help spread awareness. Here are the facts about PDs:

1.Pneumococcal diseases ranges from serious life-threatening diseases such as meningitis, pneumonia and bacteraemia to less severe but more commonly diagnosed diseases such as otitis media (middle ear infection) sinusitis, and bronchitis.

2.Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) infection can cause serious life threatening PDs and permanent disabilities to children.

3.Middle Ear infection or Otitis media (OM) is one of the frequently diagnosed diseases in infants and chldren which can lead to developmental delays. Non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) and S. pneumoniae are the leading causes of acute otitis media (AOM) in children under five years old.

4.Those who survive PD may have impaired quality of life in the future because of it's long-term effects such as learning disabilities, hearing loss, mental retardation, and paralysis.

5. S. pneumoniae serotypes 1, 5, and 7F have been associated with high levels of invasiveness and causing a significant proportion of severe invasive pneumococcal diseases (IPD) among children.

6.GSK's innovative pneumococcal non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) protein D conjugate vaccine (PhiDCV) offers broader protection against PDs such as meningitis, sepsis, bacteremiae and pneumoniae. It substantially reduces burden of IPDs and AOM, offering additional health benefits and cost reductions.

To know more about PDs, consult your pediatrician and help spread the word.