Ira Wibowo: Campaigning to fight cervical cancer Everyday, 20 women in Indonesia die from cervical cancer, the cancer with the highest mortality rate in the country. "At least 40 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer each day in the country. But it can be easily prevented," Ira Wibowo said. Ira, 39, is not an oncologist and has never treated a cervical cancer patient. She is an actress, whose film Mengejar Mas-mas (Pursuing Older Men) is now playing at local movie theaters. She knows a lot about the disease, after the Indonesian Cancer Foundation asked her and model Anissa Pohan to become ambassadors for a newly-launched campaign to help increase public awareness about it. Cervical cancer affects more than 500,000 women worldwide annually, with half dying of the disease. Eighty percent of women with cervical cancer live in developing countries, with 600 dying from the disease every day. In the rest of the world, breast cancer is the biggest killer among women, but in Indonesia it is the second biggest killer after cervical cancer. While the cause of breast cancer remains a mystery, cervical cancer is mostly caused by Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), which can be spread through sexual contact. "A promiscuous sexual lifestyle can increase the risk of contracting the virus. A man who has sex with a woman who carries the virus might spread it to another woman, even if he uses a condom," said Ira. To detect indications of breast cancer, women should perform breast self-examinations every month and those over the age of 40 should have a mammogram every two years. To check for signs of cervical cancer, women who are sexually active should have an annual Pap smear. Pap smear testing has decreased cases of cervical cancer and deaths from the disease in many countries. For a Pap smear, a doctor inserts a speculum into the patient's vagina to collect a cell sample from the cervix. "Unfortunately, here in Indonesia many women are still reluctant to have a Pap smear because they are shy. In some cases the husbands also object, saying it is not necessary to have the test as there is no symptom of the disease," Ira said. After a cancer cell grows, a woman may hemorrhage. In the early stages, the cancer can be easily treated, but in many cases, women with the symptoms seek treatment too late and cannot be helped. Last year the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the use of a cervical cancer vaccine, called Gardasil. Unfortunately, it is one of the most expensive vaccines, costing around US$375 for a three-shot dose. The Indonesian Cancer Foundation currently charges Rp 40,000 ($4.50) for a Pap smear. There is another method which is cheaper, which uses asam cuka (acetic acid). With this method, the cervix is dabbed with a liquid. If the tissue turns from a light red to white, this may be an indication of cervical cancer. "But, you cannot do this test yourself and still need to see a doctor," Ira said. Cases of cervical cancer are mostly found in women aged between 35 and 55 years old. "It takes five to 10 years for the virus to develop, therefore, there is actually ample time to prevent the disease." Women should not wait until they are 35 to begin preventative measures. Even teenagers who are not yet sexually active need to know about their bodies and reproductive health. "Young women should pay attention to their health from an early age, as part of their lifestyle," said Ira, who includes her eldest daughter, 13-year-old Chika Putri Bagaskara, in the anti-cervical cancer campaign. Ira, who is the sister of popular TV actor Ari Wibowo, has three children from her marriage to Katon Bagaskara, the lead vocalist and guitarist of KLA Project. "As a public figure, I hope I will be able to reach more people in the cervical cancer campaign," she said. "I want people to be able to access useful information, not just gossip about actors and actresses getting married and divorced." Even though Ira and her husband are very busy with their jobs in the entertainment industry, their marriage seems to run smoothly. "If I have a hectic schedule, he tries to get time off so that when I return home he is there to welcome me; and I do the same when he is busy," she said. Communication is very important in their marriage. "If we have a problem, we talk and try to settle it as soon as possible," said Ira, adding they also try to spend romantic time together. Ira, a mother of three, was born in Berlin on Dec. 20, 1967, from a German mother and a Javanese father. She moved to Indonesia in 1982. Her father lives in Indonesia, while her mother is in Germany and Ira often visits her during the holidays. What she likes best about Berlin -- besides its four seasons -- is the clean air, nice parks and comfortable public transportation. "I hope the next Jakarta governor will pay more attention to the transformation of public areas and the environment. It would be great to see some well-maintained public parks established with children's playgrounds for families to spend quality time at on the weekends, as an alternative to shopping malls."
(The Jakarta Post)
T. Sima Gunawan, Contributor, Jakarta 31 May 2007
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