CEBU, Philippines - Cancer has caused the deaths of at least 1,125 persons per year in Metro Cebu with most cases were reported in Cebu City.
Ronald delos Reyes, health educator of the Eduardo Aboitiz Cancer Center, revealed that every year, over 1,700 new cases of cancer are reported in Metro Cebu.
Common types of cancer that are affecting Cebuanos are the cancer of the liver, colorectal, prostate, and lung for males while cancer of the breast, liver, lung, and cervical cancer for females.
Delos Reyes said most deaths occur among males because females are more open to checkup once they detect something wrong in their body.
“Women are more likely to see a doctor when they find something wrong in their body. Ang mga lalaki, maghuwat pa na mograbe ang sakit una magpacheck-up. But please know na bisan maka-afford paka, kung late or grabe na ang stage sa cancer, that’s hopeless already,” delos Reyes said.
In line with the Cancer Awareness Week, the EACC reminded the public that healthy lifestyle is really important as one way of preventing or minimizing one’s risk to have cancer.
“Quit smoking. That is really what the DOH (Department of Health) is promoting right now because lung cancer remains the most common among the variations of the disease,” Delos Reyes said.
He noted the growing number of people smoking mostly among call center agents.
Next to lung cancer is liver cancer which is also common to both females and males. The most common diseases associated with liver cancer are chronic viral hepatitis, alcoholism, and cirrhosis or the scarring of the liver.
Delos Reyes told parents that it is important for their child to complete the Hepatitis B (HPB) vaccines which protects their child from having Hepatitis B infections. “More than 50 percent of those diagnosed with liver cancer have hepa B infections.”
For women, to prevent cervical cancer through early detection, they are advised to have Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.
“Although mahal siya but compared sa risgo na ma-develop ang cervical cancer, mas barato kung maprevent siya,” delos Reyes said.
While prostate cancer is easily detectable, still, most cases are diagnosed only at the late stage.
“Kay unfortunately, ang mga lalaki lagi di open magpa-check-up. Dapat unta moagi sila og Digital Rectal Examination or DRE,” Delos Reyes said.
Other ways to prevent cancer are through low fat, high protein diet and exercise. He explained that high fat intake increases the risk of developing colon cancer.
Delos Reyes said that EACC continued to provide assistance to people diagnosed with cancer in various ways.
Some of the services they provide include pap smear (cervical screening), mammography, breast examination, breast and cervix biopsy and surgery in a form of primary treatment. Those who need assistance may approach EACC.
Meanwhile, delos Reyes said that the implementing rules and regulations of a city ordinance passed by Councilor Nestor Archival has been finalized just recently.
The ordinance, which seeks to create “a task force for the protection and welfare of people with cancer and providing funds,” was approved on November 2008 and the IRR was finally completed.
Delos Reyes said they hope to implement it immediately because a lot of cancer patients will benefit from this ordinance. — Jessica Ann R. Pareja/LPM (FREEMAN NEWS)