HPV = CERVICAL CANCER = POSSIBLE DEATH

HPV! I have been seeing this three letters a lot lately. At first I thought it was a new virus that has replaced the menace also known as the HIV virus. Then I learned from extensive research (ahem ahem) that HPV or Human Papilloma Virus is the virus that causes cervical cancer. Acquiring this virus is no laughable matter as cervical cancer is reported to claim as many as 4300 lives each year here in the Philippines alone. Cervical cancer produces the second biggest number of deaths from any cancer type that affects women. It is pretty scary for a thought but there is good news for us women. In light of the recent developments, the medical community came out with a vaccine that aims to prevent cervical cancer.

I think the vaccine officially came out mid last year but skeptics are quick to point out the adverse effects and also question the potency of the said vaccines. I also heard from fox news that some schools in the U.S. were actually mandating high school girls to receive the shots. This action was of course met with a lot of opposition from the children’s parents and even community elders. Here in the Philippines, women are starting to pick up with the trend although the vaccine is not yet as well known as in the U.S. I have seen advertisements already and also advocacy groups. I’m thinking about getting the vaccine too so I did a little research. I wanted to know how much the entire package cost. Unfortunately this information is never to be found. For some reason, vaccination rates are never stated in any website or ads. I can only guess that it might be a little expensive for the regular gal. So I wonder “how will a regular Filipina like me afford the vaccine.”