Category: health

TMC Medical Facts: Cervical Cancer

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What is Cervical Cancer?
Cancer is a disease in which certain body cells don’t function right; divide very fast; and produce too much tissue, which results in the formation of tumors.

Cervical Cancer is cancer located in the cervix, which is the lower, narrow part of the uterus (womb).

Statistics:

Cervical Cancer in the Global Context

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer affecting women worldwide.
500,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year.

Every 2 minutes, a woman somewhere in the world dies of cervical cancer.

Cervical Cancer in the Philippines

Cervical Cancer is the second most common cancer among Filipino women.
Incidence starts rising steeply at age 35.In the Philippines, late-stage diagnosis is prevalent.
56% of Filipino women with cervical cancer will die within 5 years from the time of detection.
12 Filipino women die of cervical cancer every day.

What Causes Cervical Cancer?

Cervical Cancer is caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).
HPV is a very common virus and is easily transmitted. It is resistant to heat and desiccation.

How is the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Transmitted?

You can get it through skin-to-skin (rubbing) genital contact:

  • Even without sexual penetration
  • Condoms may reduce the risk but do not ensure 100% protection
  • Even dead cells shed during intercourse can contain HPV and remain infective for days.
  • Can All HPVs Cause Cervical Cancer?

There are many types of HPV but only cancer-causing strains could lead to cervical cancer.
Worldwide, HPV strains 16, 18, 45, and 31 together are responsible for more than 80% of cervical cancer cases.

What are the Risk Factors?

  • Young age at sexual debut
  • High number of pregnancies
  • Smoking (current)
  • Long-term use of oral contraceptives
  • Sexually transmitted infection

What are the Signs that I Should Look Out for if I Have Cervical Cancer?

Early Cervical Cancer generally produces NO signs or symptoms. However, as the cancer progresses, these signs and symptoms may appear:

  • Vaginal bleeding after intercourse, between periods or after menopause
  • Watery, bloody vaginal discharge that may be heavy and have a foul odor
  • Pelvic pain or pain during intercourse

Who is at Risk?

Every woman is at risk.

How is Cervical Cancer Detected?

Regular screening can detect pre-cancerous lesions through either:

  • PAP smear
  • HPV DNA Test
  • Visual inspection with acetic acid

When Should I Get a PAP Smear?

  • Begin testing about 3 years after start of sexual activity but not earlier than 21.
  • Get a pap smear every year until age 30. After age 30, women who have had 3 consecutive normal results on annual PAP smears can be re screened every 2 to 3 years.
  • Screening may be done if the woman has abnormal vaginal bleeding, pain, sores, or itching.

The risk of developing cervical cancer is three to ten times greater in women who have not been screened.

Abbott Facility Receives Top International Award for Operational Excellence

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Abbott has been awarded the Shingo Prize, an international award for operational excellence, by the Shingo Institute at the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University. Abbott’s vascular devices manufacturing facility in Clonmel, Ireland, received the award, recognizing the site’s initiative to develop and maintain continuous improvement to achieve operational excellence. The prize is awarded to organizations that demonstrate a culture where principles of operational excellence are deeply embedded into the thinking and behavior of all leaders, managers and associates.

“Only the highest-performing organizations are considered for the Shingo Prize,” said Robert Miller, executive director at the Shingo Institute. “Organizations that receive the top Shingo Prize have successfully created a culture characterized by excellence, respect, humility, the quest for perfection and flow of value to the customer. Ultimately, these are some of the best organizations in the world.”

The Shingo Prize, established in 1988, is named after Japanese industrial engineer Shigeo Shingo, who distinguished himself as one of the world’s thought leaders in concepts, management systems and improvement techniques. The Shingo Prize began as a way to recognize and inspire excellence in manufacturing but has grown to serve as the global standard for enterprise excellence. The Shingo Prize is open to organizations across all industries and sectors globally. Abbott’s vascular devices manufacturing facility in Clonmel is the first organization in Europe to achieve the standards required to receive the top Shingo Prize.

Abbott’s Clonmel facility is a center of excellence in the manufacturing of medical devices used to treat people with vascular diseases, including heart disease, in more than 100 countries around the world. By adopting the Shingo model of operational excellence and continued improvement, the team at Abbott further developed and strengthened its long-term vision and strategy, discovered the most effective ways to foster collaboration among employees, and identified opportunities to enhance the way the company manufactures medical devices. As a result, the Clonmel site has achieved significant increases in productivity, while maintaining the highest standards of quality as it brings innovative medical technologies to the market.

“Abbott’s dedication to excellence is a driving force across all functions and roles, and is central to our development of innovative business solutions so that we can continue to deliver world-class products to our customers,” said Chuck Foltz, senior vice president, vascular, Abbott. “Receiving the top Shingo Prize for our manufacturing facility in Clonmel is a testament to the deep commitment of our employees and to our ongoing focus on serving the people who benefit from our products.”

Strategic Hospital Alliance Program signs Metro Davao Medical and Research Center

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Makati Medical Center’s Strategic Hospital Alliance Program (SHAP) gains another member in the Davao region following the onboarding of Metro Davao Medical and Research Center in May.

Makati Medical Center’s Strategic Hospital Alliance Program (SHAP) gained another member in the Davao region following the onboarding of Metro Davao Medical and Research Center, a tertiary hospital situated along JP Laurel Avenue in Bajada, Davao City. The hospital, which signed with SHAP in March, is led by its Medical Director, Yvette Yenco-Tan, MD.

SHAP held an orientation with the new partner on May 14, facilitated by Mary Ann Lee, Corporate Business Officer, and Bron Jay Villamor, SHAP Administrative staff.

SHAP also visited another hospital partner, Davao Doctors Hospital, for a process re-orientation. It was attended by their marketing, ancillary services, laboratory and nuclear medicine. Davao Doctors was also provided with the Stem Cell incentive scheme referral process, and was invited to visit MakatiMed for a hospital tour.

To date, SHAP is composed of 73 partner hospitals and clinics, three company referrers, and six physician referrers.

The Medical City: Prepared for MERS CoV

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Approriate supplies for protection against germs (PPE) is available for all healthcare workers and care givers. We advise our patients not to entertain any visitors and to limit to one care giver, only if necessary.

N95/Mask – Protects from exposure to airborne particles and barrier to splashes, droplets, and sprays. In a healthcare setting, protects from exposure to viruses and bacteria.

Gloves – help prevent contamination

Gown – used as a barrier to prevent contamination

Eye Goggles – used for anticipated splashes a for protection

Negative Pressure Room:

  • Isolation technique used in hospitals to prevent cross-contaminations from room to room.
  • This technique is used to isolate patients with airborne contagious diseases such as tuberculosis, measles, or chickenpox. Now, used for MERS CoV, since the transmission of the virus is still unknown.
  • Located at 14th (1414 to 1419), Intensive Care Unit Isolation B and Emergency Room

Prepared TMC Staffs:

We have preparedness plan done by MERS CoV task force.

HICEC Committee (group of Department heads) will transmit the plan to their staffs.

MERS CoV task force strategies:

  • Information dissemination
  • Educational program
  • Multi-disciplinary approach

MakatiMed bares its heart for compassionate service with Palliative Care

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Continuing to spread the spirit and value of malasakit to its patients, premier health institution Makati Medical Center raises the importance of palliative care, a practice in health care that services patients beyond their necessary medical needs.

Palliative care looks after the psychological, emotional, mental, and spiritual, and even the economic well-being of patients, and further guides them through their concerns. “The goal of palliative care is to improve the quality of life of patients and their families through a holistic approach that does not only deal with the physical aspect of pain,” says Mari Joanne Guerzon-Joson, MD, of MakatiMed’s Department of Medicine.

Typical patients who receive palliative care are those who have chronic conditions, life-threatening illnesses such as cancer, or are undergoing rehabilitation. These are also the patients recommended for MakatiMed’s Home Care as post-hospitalization service.

Palliative care can start with the interdisciplinary meeting among doctors, the patient, and his family, during discussions of the various approaches that may be taken to best address the condition and situation of the patient.“We bring in the family and whoever else is concerned to the discussion so that they are part of the decision-making, because it’s important for them to understand all their options; and for the patient, to have that feeling of being well-supported, as we don’t leave him deciding on his own,” explains Dr. Joson.

What can be challenging though, she remarks, is the discussion of death. “In our culture, it’s still not a welcome topic,” she reveals. “But in keeping with the essence of palliative care, it’s a subject that needs to be addressed if it is a real possibility in that specific case. We need to prepare the patient and the family for different scenarios as part of the process.”

Indeed, it takes excellent communication and listening skills, plus the ability to adapt to each patient’s family dynamics, to become a good practitioner of palliative care. “Our role requires us to adjust well to each patient and his family, and discern how to approach them properly and effectively, because these are life-changing decisions we are helping them make,” she shares.

Discussions for both short-term goals and long-term plans for the patient take about two to three meetings to cover, especially since in Filipino culture, it’s likely that everyone—from the spouse to the extended family relatives—would want to be involved. Many other factors also come up, such as problems at home. Economic concerns become an issue at most times, too, as treatment and care for chronic patients can already be financially draining for the family.

That’s why MakatiMed gives patients the option to continue receiving care and treatment with its Home Care services. “Home care allows patient to continue getting the sustaining care they need at home after being discharged from the hospital,” says Eric Nubla, Jr., MD,Director of Patient Relations at MakatiMed.

They are sent a team of doctors and nurses, who are always in close coordination with the hospital medical staff, in order to maintain the quality of care to be administered at home. “That way, they recover in a more comfortable environment, they’re closer to their families, and hospital costs are lessened,” adds Dr. Nubla.

Indeed, the hospital with the heart, MakatiMed offers patients more than optimum care for its patients. With palliative care that’s culminated with the hospital’s home care services, patients are given much attention and malasakit, and they are able to build relationships with the medical team to guide them throughout.

Dr. Joson points out that while prevention and treatment are still top priorities in health care, there’s still a need to raise awareness on the value of palliative care. “The service doesn’t just concern itself with the patient and the disease—it gives due consideration to its effects on the bigger picture, which includes the family’s journey and their overall wellness, in light of different possible outcomes,” she says. “And MakatiMed, after all, is committed to look after all these aspects that affect and contribute to the patient’s overall wellness.”