09
Sep

What Kitty Wants For Christmas

Hey lovelies! How’s your holiday shopping list doing? Quick check: Christmas is 101 days away! Before I go through my gift list, I always get something for myself first. It naturally brings this cheery vibe in me that in turn works for my friends who’ll get better gifts. For months now, I’ve been lusting over this Fino LV Speedy 35ish DEEP VIOLET hand bag. Just my luck, it’s out of stock everywhere when I finally have the money to burn. I’ve been contemplating on getting myself a Nokia E71 too since I need a thin (my SE P990’s quite bulky) yet powerful phone that can keep up with me. Howevs, I just bought a new computer (which doesn’t qualify as a holiday gift yet LOL) and a phone’s already way beyond my budget. I took all makeup related items out of my list since I’ve got enough toys to feed me 24/7 for 5 years or so. I also thought of enrolling myself again in law school but my sort of new job (read: same company, new designation) is more demanding and am 101% sure that I’ll burn up pretty easily. I was doodling away and remembered something that I really need and is within my budget: HPV shots.

Some of you might be well aware that 99.7%* of the time, Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) causes the second (breast cancer still holds the top spot) makeup and fashion addict killer: cervical cancer.

HPV is a common virus. In fact, most men and women are infected with HPV at some time in their lives. There are approximately 100 types of HPV in humans. Some types affecting the genital area and may cause warts, some cause mild changes in cervical cells that do not turn into cancer, and some cause changes that may become cervical cancer if present for many years.**

In the Philippines alone, 7277 new cases and 3807 deaths cases of cervical cancer’s been reported in 2005*. Translated, this number means:

To be perfectly honest with you, am not at all surprised to see these alarming numbers because one, Filipinos are not very well informed about HPV and cervical cancer. It’s a sad fact that we lack knowledge on this very important concern simply because we’re shy to see our OBs.*sigh*

We’re shy.

Like how it is school, it’s a fact that not raising our hand to clarify an instructor’s lesson will surely backfire come finals. If we’ll all see our OBs now (I see mine not just once but twice a year since I turned 16, per mom’s order), we’ll get first hand info how we can prevent cervical cancer. Ladies, OBs didn’t spend years in school just to check what’s under our skirts. These experts burned so much time and money in school because they’re dying to tell you how you can take care of yourself.

Second, HPV shots are not very cheap. There are three shots you need to take within six months*** (1 now, then 2 months after, then 6 months after) that cost somewhere between Php6,000-7,500 (depends on your OB) each. Computed, that should be somewhere between Php18,000-22,500. YOWCH!

Believe it or not, all most problems have very simple solutions. To get over problem #1 aka. getting over your shyness, why don’t you take your BFF with you and have screenings on the same day? A comprehensive health care plan should cover annual pap screens. If you don’t have health insurance, government hospitals charge as low as Php50 (and yes, they do use disposable and sanitized products) for screening while private clinics and hospitals charge Php300 and up. Last time I checked, venti lattes’re a little over a hundred so that’s just 3-10 lattes, right? Easy breezy!

Problem #2 appears to be more challenging. I got the higher possible cost, divided it into 6 (realistically, let’s say you’re saving up for shots in six months), and got Php 3750. Php3750 is nothing compared to our makeup expenses! How much is one MAC e/s here? 850? Charged water’s a little over a thousand right? Now look at your bathroom counter and train casesss. Too much makeup, huh? Cut back on your lemmings and hauls (it’s just six months babe!) and spend on something you really, really need.

Ladies, let’s not take this issue lightly. It’s us who’s at stake here. Let’s exhaust our means to prevent HPV and cervical cancer ASAP.

Figures and facts above were taken from the following sites:
* Mahalaga Ka
**Cervical Cancer Prevention Network Program
*** Immunizers (They also provide free consults and credit card 0% deferred payment schemes! You can reach them at 744-5552 / 53 or info@immunizers.net.)
Cervical Cancer Vaccination
Everything I Can