Stages of Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer is one of the most curable types of cancer but despite this, it still ranks as one of the leading causes of death among Filipino women today. According to the Department of Health (DOH), while the number of cases of cervical cancer is decreasing in developed countries like the United States, it is on the rise in the Philippines.

Though cervical cancer can be fatal if not caught in its early stages, it is very treatable and can easily be detected through a Pap Smear test. A Pap Smear Test or Pap Test is a simple procedure that tests the presence of abnormal cells in the cervix, lower part of the uterus which, according to doctors, is actually a very big help in bringing down cervical cancer cases. “It is alarming that despite the availability of this the Pap Smear Test, many women are still not getting it as regularly as they should,” said Carmie De Leon, vice president for sales and marketing of Healthway Medical.

“As our mission of making men and women aware of the importance of making healthy living part of everyday lifestyle, we encourage women to take the Pap Smear Test every year or every 2 years. Healthway Medical offers this test in all our clinics in Metro Manila.” 

In another study done by the ICO Information Center on HPV and Cancer, 30.3M women in the Philippines ages 15 and above are at risk of developing cervical cancer. It is the 2nd most frequent cancer among women in the Philippines and is the 2nd most frequent cancer among women between the ages of 15 and 44 years of age.

I went to an ob-gyne for check-up. Guess, I had disclose it in my previous post about the cream she gave me for the itch. Now, for my prolonged period problem. She tried to insert her two fingers in my V-part and placed her hand on my tummy and push it down softly. But, I was nervous because I can feel a little bit of pain. My ob-gyne suggest an ultrasound. It was Transvaginal ultrasound.
Transvaginal ultrasound is like a pelvic examination that checks all our female reproductive organs. It is use to check our cervix, uterus and ovaries.

As what my ob suggested, I scheduled myself for the ultrasound last Saturday. I was a bit nervous because the sonographer is a man and at the same time a doctor.  When it was my time to lay in bed, he asked me what was the problem. I told him everything. I remind him that I am bleeding. My ob does not know about it because I was not bleeding at that time, yet. It was next day after the check up. This "next day" was a walk to a small bazaar (in Filipino term, it is "tiangge").

After the insertion, the sonographer told me to ask my ob-gyne for a pap smear. A pap smear can tell if it's a cervical cyst or polyps. Either is the cause of my bleeding.

January, I feel so excited to wrote a draft for my goals this year 2016 and the other long overdue product review. It was part of my goal to finish it all. For this year, I decided to be a good mother and housewife. That means, more time on being a mother and wife responsibilities than on the computer. I was ecstatic and excited. But, then along the way, I feel into sadness.


Worried About The Unpredictable Illness

I feel ill. It started second week of October 2016. I feel the itch in my V-shape area (outer lips) that made me scratched from time to time. I would stop and leave the computer to do the scratch. It makes me groan from itchiness that I feel tired. When, I wash it, it's painful from my scratch. It was gone in December after I tried to cure it myself, with a pharmacists recommendation.


Now, February, the itchiness came back after my menstruation. It's so itchy that I can no longer stop it from any cream that I used. I sought and went to an Ob-Gyne for help. She gave me a Dipro cream. I'm on my 3rd day of treatment.


Prolonged Menstruation

Last year, it was March, my son's birthday. I thought my menstruation stop because it's the 5th day. What happens next was unpredictable. I wasn't able to enjoy the moment because I am left sitting on one corner. I can not walk fast, run and play with my son because my hips is painful. The pain made me walked like a duck. Menstruation is fast that I have to double my napkins.


January, my menstruation is more than two weeks. It can raise an eyebrow. Then, it stop last February 1 and 2. February was the day I went to see an ob-gyne. My recent bleeding was not part of the check-up, hence, I am not bleeding at that time. Next day, which is Wednesday was the shocking day of my life. I saw blood in my underwear. After walking from the "tiangge", (Filipino word that means small bazaars). Also, I feel the pain on my right abdomen. That day, I feel so exhausted that I sleep all day. No house chores.


Anxiety and Financial Worries

I feel alarm and worried with what I am going through, right now. What is it that causes the pain inside me? My mother died from a cervical cancer that is why I fear of any negative result. Also, when it comes to financial, to whom will I ask for help? I have no parents, anymore. I have one brother but he has a problem of his own. It worries me so much.


Depression Comes Laziness

With all these worries and anxiety, I feel depressed. Sadness is creeping on my bones that I tried to get away with it. I feel lazy to do anything. I just sat in my bed and play in my iPad, then sleep, though. Being a mother, has pushed me to get up even if I am in pain and tried to move around even if it's slow. My son came in to play in bed. I feel irritated, it causes me headache when he jumps in bed.


Is it too late to change? I was ecstatic back then, but sadness looms around it!