Breast, cervical cancer screening at Aboitiz Cancer Center

CEBU, Philippines - Women can avail of free breast cancer and cervical cancer screening at the Eduardo J. Aboitiz Cancer Center (EJACC) located at the Vicente Sotto Medical Center on Saturday, February 19.

The activity is being spearheaded by the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) in partnership with the Integrated Midwives Association of the Philippines Inc. and VSMMC Breast Clinic. The activity will start 8am and will end at 12pm. A lecture on breast cancer and cervical cancer will be held before the screening.

The activity is part of RAFI’s advocacy for early detection measures to prevent breast and cervical cancer. RAFI has been advocating for healthy lifestyle and nutrition through exercise, proper hygiene, and avoidance of stress and vices.

Breast cancer, characterized by an abnormal growth of breast cells, is most common in women ages 30 to 59. Based on RAFI’s population-based cancer registry in Cebu, breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among Cebuano women followed by cervical cancer. From 1993 to 2007, EJACC recorded 3,005 reported breast cancer cases and 829 cervical cancer cases in Metro Cebu.

EJACC found a continuous increase of breast cancer and cervical cancer incidence in Metro Cebu over the past 10 years, which are reportedly caused by lifestyle and health-related factors.

EJACC is a program under the Integrated Development Focus Area that falls under the five key focus areas in RAFI’s comprehensive approach to elevating lives and communities. Its other focus areas are Micro-finance and Entre-preneurship, Culture and Heritage, Citizenship and Heritage, Citizenship and Leadership, and Education.

Last October 2010, the RAFI conducted its 7th annual “Moonwalk: A walk for Breast Cancer Awareness”. The said moonwalk is an advocacy campaign of RAFI held every full moon of October to promote the importance of observing monthly breast self-examination for women aged 20 and beyond. The month of October is known to be the Breast Awareness Month. – (FREEMAN)