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THE bad
news: breast cancer is the third leading cause of
mortality among women. The good news: women are
significantly more aware of the risk and the disease now
compared with their counterparts of 30 years ago.
“Right
now, in terms of killer [cancer] diseases of women,
breast cancer remains No. 1. But in terms of
dissemination of information, women today are more aware
of breast cancer,” Philippine Cancer Society executive
director Kelly Salvador said in an interview on
Thursday.
According to a report of the Cancer Society, the
Philippines is No. 1 in Asia when it comes to breast
cancer, with women in their late 20s or early 30s among
the biggest segment of victims.
“The
youngest breast-cancer patient that we diagnosed was 16
years old. But that is not very common,” Salvador said,
adding that awareness among women is getting better
since women are now getting their regular examination
and are seeing their doctors earlier.
The
society’s chairman, Roberto Paterno, said that if breast
cancer is detected early, a woman’s life could be saved,
and the free and easiest way of early detection is the
breast self-examination (BSE).
“They
should do self-examination to detect lumps and other
signs of breast cancer,” Paterno added.
BSE is
done seven or 10 days after the woman’s menstrual
period. If postmenopausal, she should select a
particular day like the first or last day of the month.
Meanwhile, global beauty company Avon Philippines, in
partnership with the Philippine Cancer Society,
continues its fight against the disease.
In their
Kiss Goodbye to Breast Cancer (KGB) campaign, 16 cities
all over Metro Manila will be hosting a three-kilometer
noncompetitive walk for breast cancer on October 5.
More
than 30,000 people around the country are expected to
join the event, Avon Philippines president and general
manager Bob Briddon said, adding that those participants
will also be making a huge difference in the lives of
many breast-cancer patients.
Avon is also aiming to raise funds by selling KGB T-shirts, which
cost P149. For every shirt sold, Avon will donate P30 to
a fund for indigent breast-cancer patients. (S. Fabunan) |
