|
By Johanna M. Sampan, Reporter
 |
 |
|
Cervical cancer survivor Veronica
de Guzman. At right is an
advocate signing her
name during an
anti- cervical cancer campaign. |
There are 500,000 new cases and 250,000 deaths reported each
year affecting women
worldwide. It is the second most obtainable cancer in the world.
For more than 20 years the incidence and
mortality rate for cervical cancer remained unchanged with one out
of three Filipino women dying of the disease annually, and three out
of four in five years, according to a research.
Veronica de Guzman, now on its tenth year as a
survivor shares her experiences the day she found out she has the
big “C.”
“When I was 47, I always experienced pain in
my lower belly and continuous discharge. I thought it was mainly
because of menopause. After still being in pain for three months, I
went to the doctor for medical checkup and I was really surprised to
learn that I have plenty of cysts in my cervix,” de Guzman
relates.
De Guzman has five children and was left by her
husband when he found out about the disease. “It was really a very
hard moment for me and yet I was able to brave it through by God’s
help,” she shares. De Guzman underwent cobalt radiation for 25
days, then brachytherapy for three more days.
Now at 57, de Guzman is giving talks to various
gatherings of women to warn them about cervical cancer. “I also
remind them that there is hope and cervical cancer is curable,”
she added. Simple tips that she imparts are to take care of your
body, eat more vegetables, lessen oily food and have Pap smear
checkup annually.
Confronting cancer
In November of 2007, a multisectoral crusade for
cervical cancer prevention with a social and moral responsibility to
provide access to evidence-based information, beyond just generating
publicity to impact benefits for the health of women was launched
and billed as “Bravehearts.”
Educating and advocating for promoting cervical
cancer awareness to fight cervical cancer is the main goal of
Bravehearts.
Recently, Bravehearts approached Maldita to
participate the advocacy in fighting cervical cancer. “We have 30
stores nationwide and all of them will be selling exclusive message
T-shirts until next year. Part of the proceeds will go to the
Bravehearts,” Eric Teng, marketing director of Maldita relates,
adding, “The officials from Bravehearts Foundation gave us the
message they want to put in the shirts and we came up with design
and color.”
The shirts have various colors with different
messages such as “I delight in treating myself right,” “Hotel
heiress on the outside, warrior princess on the inside,” “Has no
one invented a lousy boyfriend vaccine?” among others.
“Maldita wants to spread the word to more
women that you can do something about cervical cancer. We want to
encourage all Filipinas to stand up for themselves and their health.
If what we are doing right now can save one or two lives that’s
worth the effort,” Teng enthuses, adding, “Don’t let cervical
cancer take you from your family—give them the gift of having a
healthy mother, sister, daughter, or wife by arming yourself against
cervical cancer. Early detection is early prevention. I hope if they
see our shirts, it would simply remind them go to the doctor and
have themselves checked.”
|
