J Gynecol Oncol.  2009 Mar;20(1):11-16. 10.3802/jgo.2009.20.1.11.

Epidemiology, prevention and treatment of cervical cancer in the Philippines

• Domingo EJ
• Dy Echo AV

• KMID: 2055642
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3802/jgo.2009.20.1.11

Abstract

Cervical cancer remains to be one of the leading malignancies among Filipino women. High-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) types, such as 16 and 18, are consistently identified in Filipino women with cervical cancer. Factors identified to increase the likelihood of HPV infection and subsequent development of cervical cancer include young age at first intercourse, low socioeconomic status, high parity, smoking, use of oral contraception and risky sexual behaviors. Cancer screening programs presently available in the Philippines include Pap smears, single visit approach utilizing visual inspection with acetic acid followed by cryotherapy, as well as colposcopy. However, the uptake of screening remains low and is further compounded by the lack of basic knowledge women have regarding screening as an opportunity for prevention of cervical cancer. Prophylactic HPV vaccination of both quadrivalent and bivalent vaccines has already been approved in the Philippines and is gaining popularity among the Filipinos. However, there has been no national or government vaccination policy implemented as of yet. The standard of treatment of cervical cancer is radiotherapy concurrent with chemotherapy. Current researches are directed towards improving availability of both preventive and curative measures of cervical cancer management.

Keyword

Cervical cancer; Epidemiology; Screening; Human papillomavirus vaccines

MeSH Terms

Acetic Acid
Coitus
Colposcopy
Contraception
Cryotherapy
Early Detection of Cancer
Female
Humans
Mass Screening
Papillomavirus Vaccines
Parity
Philippines
Sexual Behavior
Smoke
Smoking
Social Class
Uterine Cervical Neoplasms
Vaccination
Vaccines
Acetic Acid
Papillomavirus Vaccines
Smoke
Vaccines

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Stage distribution of cervical cancer. *Stage V represents patients referred to PGH wherein stage could not be fully determined because these patients underwent surgical treatment in another institution prior to referral.

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  Fig. 2 Therapeutic interventions for cervical cancer. *Others-includes brachytherapy only, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomies, followed by chemoradiation, etc.

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  Fig. 3 Treatment outcome of patients for chemoradiation.

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  Fig. 4 Length of treatment with chemoradiation.

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