Free Cancer Screening Aims To Break Guinness World Record

The Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society (POGS) – Cebu Chapter will conduct a half-day free cervical cancer screening test on May 22 at the Cebu City Central School.

POGS-Cebu Chapter Coordinator Dr. Pherdes Galbo said the group targets to have at least 1,200 women to avail of the Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) test which can detect the presence of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) that causes cervical cancer.

“We want the activity to break in the Guinness Book of World Records as having the most number of women availing of the free cancer screening test in a short time,” said Galbo.

Galbo said the activity will start at 6:00 in the morning until noon.

Although cervical cancer is the second most common cancer afflicting women next to breast cancer, Galbo, however, said cervical cancer has a higher mortality rate compared to breast cancer.

The POGS-Cebu official said the development of cervical cancer before ranges from 10 to 15 years, but today, HPV is more potent with development stage at one to two years.

“Cervical cancer today has a high mortality rate at 50 percent within five years after contracting the disease,” said Galbo.

Though Galbo said there is no official data as to the incidence of cervical cancer in the country, the group believes that cases are rising as those afflicted becomes younger with age range between 21 to 35 years old compared to previous years of between 40 to 60 years of age.

Because of this, POGS-Cebu wants cervical cancer education to be included in the academe.

Galbo further said the group would intensify the conduct of medical missions and information and education drive down to the barangays in the region in coordination with Department of Health-7. (rmn/fcr/PIA7)