The Power over Cervical Cancer campaign is rolling out to engage more women in its fight against this disease.

(from left) Vanessa Chong, Del Val, Saunthari and Genevieve at the launch of the Pink Mobile project.

CERVICAL

As such, the National Cancer Society of Malaysia (NCSM) has started the Power over Cervical Cancer (POCC) campaign in an effort to increase awareness on the disease and help reduce its occurrences in the country.

As part of the campaign’s ongoing efforts, the NCSM launched the POCC Pink Mobile project last week with a call to help protect every woman.

The project entails the use of a striking pink mobile truck (hence, its name!), which will make scheduled stops at various high-traffic locations for four weeks.

At each stop, women will be encouraged to participate in a risk test which involves answering a questionnaire to gauge their risk of contracting the disease.

Manning the Pink Mobile are NCSM volunteers who will be joined by the seven POCC ambassadors – Pamela and Vanessa Chong (of Amazing Race Asia Season 2 fame), TV host Siow Hui Mei, TV host and producer Rina Omar, DJ Jay Menon, former beauty queen and model Genevieve Sambhi and actress/TV host Sarimah Ibrahim – at some of the scheduled spots to lend their support.

Genevieve, who was present at the launch with another POCC ambassador Vanessa, is herself a survivor of cervical cancer. She believes that every woman should know about the risks and that they are not alone in the fight against it.

She said that no woman should have to go through what she did and urged all women to get themselves checked.

At each location, early birds who complete the risk test will receive mystery gifts from official partners Pureology and Stage Cosmetics.

Every 500th woman who completes the test will win hampers from Pureology and Stage Cosmetics worth RM250 each.

The 10,000th participant will receive a hamper each worth RM450 from these two companies.

For each risk test completed, GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceutical (GSK) Sdn Bhd, which is supporting this project, will contribute RM1 to NCSM.

Francis Del Val, the vice-president and managing director of GSK Pharmaceutical Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei, said they are aiming to collect 10,000 risk tests by year end through this project.

In addition, with a minimum of RM10, participants can receive selected hairstyling products from Redken while donations of RM15 and above will receive exclusive Redken merchandises.

All donations will be channelled to NCSM for its cervical cancer awareness programmes.

The POCC risk test can also be obtained at Creative Nail Boutique, A Cut Above, Monsoon-id Hair Salon, Kimarie Salons & Academy, Michael & Guys Hair Salon, Miko Hair Studio & Academy, Russell Salon and Jantzen Salon.

Meanwhile, NCSM executive-cum-medical director Dr Saunthari Somasundram said women who participate in the test are encouraged to take the results of their risk tests to their medical practitioners for further analysis.

She pointed out that the high statistics involving cervical cancer can be significantly reduced through effective screening and vaccination.

The POCC Pink Mobile with NCSM volunteers.

Saunthari said: "Cervical cancer affects women in the prime of their lives … we want all women to protect themselves against cervical cancer and to acknowledge the power that they have over the disease.

"All women are at risk. Take the risk test and know your risk to cervical cancer today.

"Why allow a preventable disease to kill women when they have the power to protect themselves?" she asked.

Cervical cancer if diagnosed early, is also curable, unlike breast cancer. Early detection of abnormal cells that may potentially turn cancerous is needed.

This can be done via an annual Papanicolaou test (more popularly known as Pap smear), which detects changes in the cells of the cervix.

There are 100 types of HPV, but only about 20 cause cancer, most commonly the 16 and 18 strains, which cause about 70% of all cervical cancers.

There is now a vaccine available against the HPV 16 and 18 strains but this vaccine works best if given to females before they become sexually active with the recommended age being between nine and 14 years.

The vaccination is given in three doses over a period of six months.

To find out more about the POCC campaign or the scheduled stops for the POCC Pink Mobile, log on to www.cancer.org.my.