Made It Through Mum

This is an educational message sponsored by MSD Philippines . Valentine’s Day is traditionally a time for chocolates, flowers, and romantic dinners. But what if this year, you and your partner focused on something different? What if you celebrated your love by looking after your health and well-being? This Valentine’s Day, consider a new kind of love language: the language of health and protection. Let’s explore how couples can make this day special while taking a proactive step toward a healthier future together. HPV: A shared concern for couples While often associated with women’s health, the human papillomavirus (HPV) is a concern for both men and women. It is a common sexually transmitted infection that can lead to various health problems, including cervical cancer in women and other cancers in both sexes.1 While most HPV infections clear up on their own, persistent infections can lead to serious health problems, including cervical, vaginal, anal, and oropharyngeal cancers.2  T...

Cancer is a growing global health crisis, with alarming statistics highlighting the urgency of action. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) reported nearly 20 million new cases and 9.7 million cancer-related deaths in 2022 alone. This grim trend is projected to worsen, with an estimated 35 million new cases annually by 2050. Southeast Asia , in particular, faces a significant burden, with over 1.1 million new cases and 700,000 deaths in 2022, with breast, lung, and colorectal cancers leading the charge.  Dr. Zee Ying Kiat Senior Consultant of Medical Oncology  Parkway Cancer Center   Parkway Cancer Center recently hosted a media roundtable event titled "Common Adult Cancers: Prevention, Screening, and Treatment" at the New World Hotel. Dr. Zee Ying Kiat, Senior Consultant of Medical Oncology at Parkway Cancer Center, led the discussion, highlighting the importance of awareness and education in empowering individuals to take proactive steps in their ...

Leading health and beauty retailer Watsons encourages the public to stay protected against cervical cancer.  In the Philippines, cervical cancer is the second most frequent cancer among Filipino women, especially those aged 15 to 44 years old. 7,897 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer yearly and from that number, 4,052 of them succumb to the disease. What’s more, cervical cancer also puts women at higher risk of miscarriage and infertility.  Certain strains  of the Human Papillomavirus or HPV are the main cause of cervical cancer. It’s the most common sexually transmitted infection. Sexually active people, even with just one partner, can get HPV. This can be passed on even when they have no signs or symptoms of the infection.  Fortunately, HPV is a vaccine-preventable disease.  "Vaccination provides an extra layer of protection. We are working to help build healthier communities by making vaccination more convenient and ensuring that customers always ha...

Head lice infestation or pediculosis has been a big health problem since the dawn of time. Generations of parents and guardians have always warned against lice, often times panicking and immediately whipping out a suyod (lice comb) once they see something crawling beneath children’s hair. However, despite our long and itchy history with head lice, there are still many who believe in the common misconceptions about lice infestation. Kilusang Kontra Kuto , a coalition of head lice prevention experts and advocates led by Lamoiyan Corporation’s Licealiz, the Department of Education or DepED, University of the Philippines Manila College of Public Health, Mommy Bloggers Philippines, and Drugstores Association of the Philippines, was created with the goal of dispelling these misconceptions and changing the negative view on pediculosis. Here are a few of the common misconceptions we often hear about kuto: ⛔ Lice can jump or fly from head to head  One misconception is tha...

It’s the rainy season again.  The Department of Health (DOH) urges the public to be careful with diseases common during rainy season known as WILD - an acronym that stands for Water-borne diseases, Influenza , Leptospirosis , and Dengue .  Here are some information about Leptospirosis. L E PTOSPIROSIS is a bacterial disease that affects humans and animals. It is caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira. In humans it causes a wide range of symptoms, and some infected persons may have no symptoms at all. Symptoms of leptospirosis include high fever, severe headache, chills, muscle aches, and vomiting, and may include jaundice (yellow skin and eyes), red eyes, abdominal pain, diarrhea, or a rash. If the disease is not treated, the patient could develop kidney damage, meningitis (inflammation of the membrane around the brain and spinal cord), liver failure, and respiratory distress. How do people get leptospirosis? Outbreaks of leptospirosis are usu...