RAFI warns Cebuanos of Cervical and Breast Cancer

CEBU, Philippines - The Eduardo J. Aboitiz Cancer Center (EJACC) of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. urges the public to observe regular screenings to detect cervical and breast cancer at early stages.

Last month, RAFI-EJACC held the regular cervical and breast cancer control community outreach program in Sibonga, Cebu. The program offered free medical check-ups and laboratory tests.

With May being the Cervical Cancer Prevention and Awareness Month, EJACC also conducted free active cancer screenings and lectures about cervical cancer in collaboration with the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center Cancer Institute, VSMMC Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and the Cervical Cancer Prevention Network Program.

In Metro Cebu, cervical cancer cases continue to grow in number over the past ten years while breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death among Cebuano women, based on the Cebu population-based Cancer Registry of EJACC.

In the recent Cancer Registry report, the average number of cervical cancer cases totaled 829 from 1993 to 2007. More than half of these cases are already on their late stages. Women aged 30-59 have the most number of cases diagnosed with cervical cancer.

In the same period, there are a total of 3,005 reported breast cancer cases in Metro Cebu. EJACC found that there is a continuous increase of breast cancer incidence in Metro Cebu over the past ten years.

Several factors trigger cervical cancer and breast cancer, including lifestyle and health-related factors.

For cervical cancer, these may include sex at a young age, multiple sex partners, promiscuous male partners, history of sexually-transmitted disease, smoking, use of oral contraceptives for more than five years, and reduced access to healthcare or no cervical screening.

Worldwide, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer affecting women. In the Philippines, it is the second leading cause of cancer deaths.

Most cervical cancer cases are caused by Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), a common viral infection transmitted sexually that develops in the cervix, the entrance between the vagina and the uterus.

One can take preventive measures by maintaining a healthy lifestyle and nutrition, exercise, proper hygiene, avoiding stresses and vices, using barrier contraceptive, maintaining monogamous sexual relationships, and HPV vaccination.

Early detection can be done through several screening methods like pap smear, visual inspection with acetic acid, colposcopy, HPV testing, and single visit approach. Available treatments for early stages of cervical cancer include surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.

“The danger of cervical cancer is when it is detected at a later stage, which may not be treated by surgery or chemo-radiation. This is why I really advise women, especially teenagers who are already sexually active, to undergo pap smear. Don’t be shy to do so because the risks outweigh the benefits,” Dr. Hie Tangga-an, senior resident physician at the VSMMC Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, said.

For breast cancer, factors may include menarche before 12 years old, menopause beyond 55 years old, never having children, having first childbirth after 30 years old, and having a family history of cancer.

Breast cancer, which is characterized by an abnormal growth of breast cells, is most common in women ages 30 to 59.

EJACC urges the public to undergo early detection measures through self-examination by age 20, yearly health worker examination (clinical breast exam) by age 30, and yearly mammogram by age 50 or earlier for women who have family history of breast cancer. If diagnosed positive with breast cancer, it may be treated through surgery, chemotherapy and hormonal manipulation, and radiation therapy.        

For more information about cervical and breast cancer, call EJACC at 254-6351 or 256-3287.