“My mission started when I learned that cervical cancer is preventable,” former Binibing Pilipinas Universe Abbygale Arenas-de Leon, said yesterday at a press conference at L'Fisher Hotel in Bacolod City.

De Leon was in Bacolod City for the awareness campaign on cervical cancer, and held a lecture for University of St. La Salle-Bacolod students with Dr. Evelyn Lacson, president of Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society in Western Visayas.

She said she learned about the preventive measures for cervical cancer in 2007 and she has been involved in its awareness campaign since then.

She tells women that there is a vaccine for this type of cancer, and that this type of cancer is the number two killer disease of women worldwide, De Leon said, adding that based on a survey 12 Filipinas die from it daily.

It is also the second biggest cause of female cancer mortality in the country, she added.

Lacson said the information on cervical cancer is still not well disseminated in Negros Occidental and that is why they started the lectures in April this year, and are trying to reach as many women as they can during their activities.

She also said there are now vaccines available for cancer-causing human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16 and 18, and reports shows that its longest duration of protection lasts 8 to 10 years.

A patient has to get three vaccine shots at a total at P2,500 per vaccination, she also said.

De Leon said Bacolod City is the first place they visited after finishing the campaign in Luzon and they plan to have a Tour of Hope with the bikers group in Negros Island. They will also campaign in Cebu City in November, she added.

Forty local bikers and international triathlon participants biked from Bacolod City to Don Salvador Benedicto to support the cause on cervical cancer awareness. The group is led by Joyette Jopson and Canadian national Matt O'Halloran, she said.

De Leon is also the president of Breavehearts Coalition of the Philippines, a non-profit organization that raises awareness on prevention of cervical cancer through awareness, screening, and vaccination. *LTG

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