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AVON,
one of the world’s leading beauty companies, is
spearheading an advocacy against breast cancer. Now on
its fifth year, the Avon Walk against breast cancer is
now gathering supporters, survivors, their families and
friends, as well as other advocates, to raise awareness
and funds that will help make breast-care information,
facilities and services more available, especially to
those in the provinces.
The
Philippine Cancer Society lists more than 10,000
breast-cancer cases among Filipino women every year,
with a mortality rate of about 40 percent within a year
of diagnosis. The beauty company hopes that with new
developments in medicine, along with efforts to increase
awareness among women and encourage them to get an
annual examination, the numbers will slowly decrease.
While a
cure for the disease has not yet been discovered, early
detection and treatment remain the best protection.
The main
risk factors of breast cancer are heredity, prolonged
and sustained use of estrogen, women with early menarche
and late menopause, those who never had children and
whose first pregnancy occurred after age 30. The most
common signs of breast cancer are generally painless and
may include a lump, thickening, swelling, dimpling or
puckering, change in size, nipple change, or a discharge
from one or both nipples.
All
women who reach the age of 20 should learn how to do a
self-breast examination, which should be performed once
a month, one week after menstruation. Clinical breast
examination, meanwhile, is recommended every three years
for women aged between 20 and 39. For those 35 and
above, a PAP smear is advised once a year for two
consecutive years. If results are negative for two
consecutive years, PAP smears should be done once every
three years thereafter. Women aged 40 and above should
have a mammography annually, which is the most effective
way of detecting breast cancer early. However, it is
still necessary for postmenopausal women to do
self-examination and to always discuss anything unusual
with their doctors.
Accurate
diagnosis is key not only in establishing whether cancer
actually exists, but also in making well-informed
decisions about treatment. The problem in the
Philippines, however, is that many women, especially
those among the poor, do not seek early medical
consultation after a breast mass has been detected.
Avon is
one of the biggest supporters of breast-cancer awareness
in the nation as the global company helped establish the
Philippine General Hospital Breast Care Center (PGH-BCC),
and has donated much-needed equipment to government
hospitals in the provinces. It has raised over $500
million to advance breast-cancer education and
awareness, screening and diagnosis, access to treatment,
support services and scientific research all over the
world.
“We have
received some very encouraging feedback regarding our
mission.” Avon Philippines general manager Bob Briddon
said during the press conference held at the Filipino
Heritage Museum recently. “Our goal is to help eradicate
this disease that downs one in 33 women across the
globe. Avon will stay committed to helping women and
their families as long as it is necessary.”
In line
with its commitment,
Avon will donate
P5 to the cause with every sale of Skin So Soft Ultra
Healing Hand and Body Lotion. Proceeds from these
efforts will benefit PGH-BCC and Western Visayas
Regional Hospital in Iloilo, as well as Baguio General
Hospital.
Lotion with a mission.
Avon
will donate P5 to the Breast Cancer Foundation from
every sale of Skin So Soft.
Last
year more than 12,000 supporters walked to raise funds
for improving the equipment at
PGH Northern
Mindanao Medical Center in Cagayan de Oro and the
Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in
Bacolod. Previous beneficiaries were the Vicente Sotto
Memorial Medical Center in Cebu and Davao Medical
Center.
This
year, in partnership with the Philippine Cancer Society
and supported by Astra Zeneca, GMA, QTV, PUP, SM Mall of
Asia, Stratworks Marketing Communications, Magic 89.9,
Philippine Reclamation Authority, Trumpets Music
Academy, Merck Inc., Metro Index, Plastimer Industrial
Corp., Consumer Packaging and Bine Philippines, Avon
hopes to gather at least 15,000 people to walk with
women who will fight the disease on October 14 in Baguio,
which will start at the Melvin Jones Park; and October
21 at the Avon Branch in Iloilo.
For
inquiries or registration, call the
Avon help desk at 864-2900 and 864-2902, contact Enrie Legaspi of
Stratworks at 751-3805, or visit avonfoundation.org. |
