Women’s awareness opened to control breast, cervical cancer

DAVAO ORIENTAL — Early detection and lifestyle modification are among the most effective measures to tackle the silent killer disease – cancer. During the recent Cancer Awareness Lay Forum which was held in observance of the Breast Cancer Awareness Month, medical experts from the region shared to Capitol employees and health professionals, who were participants in the forum, salient information on two of the most common cancers among women – breast cancer and cervical cancer.

Dr. Sharon Lilly Valdez, Regional Cluster Head on Non-Communicable Diseases and Prevention revealed that based on the 2015 data of the Philippine Health Statistics, breast cancer has been ranked as number one cause of cancer deaths among women in the Philippines. In Davao Region, she said, breast cancer still ranks number one in the top causes of mortality among women while cancer in the genital organ which includes cervical cancer ranks second. She listed tobacco use, unhealthy diet and lifestyle, physical inactivity, and harmful use of alcohol as the major risk factors for cancers.

Dr. Joy Sanico, Provincial Health Officer I and Head of the Public Health Division, stressed the importance of reproductive health information for women and access to health facilities for early detection, particularly in rural areas. In tackling breast cancer, Dr. Joan Reyes, Breast Cancer Surgeon from Davao Doctor’s Hospital, said early detection is possible through readily accessible screening tests and procedures such as breast exam (clinical and self), imaging tests, and biopsy as the diagnostic procedure for women who are already suspected of having breast cancer.

Meanwhile, the growing cases of cervical cancer have also been causing a lot of concern in public health. Cervical cancer is caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) which is transmitted through sexual intercourse. While the incidence rate for cervical cancer starts rising steeply at the age of 30, the government has pursued HPV vaccination among girls as young as nine years old in the effort to reduce deaths from cervical cancer as its incidence is steadily on the rise, particularly among the younger female population who engage in sexual activity at a young age.

Currently, the Department of Health conducts cancer screening programs readily available for the public in health centers. These diagnostic procedures for cervical cancer are the Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) and Papanicolaou test commonly known as papsmear. For advanced stages, biopsy is identified as the most reliable diagnostic procedure. A devastating disease, cancer not only causes physical and mental distress but also leads to deep financial exhaustion among patients and their family. In order to save lives, the government is keen at empowering people in terms of prevention through education and healthy diet and lifestyle choices, as well as the prevention of stress. (with Karen Lou Deloso)