Free breast screening for indigents pushed

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Council recently passed an ordinance creating a breast screening program for the indigent women of the city.

The ordinance was authored by City Councilors Margarita Osmeña, Nida Cabrera, Lea Japson, Mary Ann de los Santos, and Alvin Dizon.

“We all know that breast cancer is one of the leading diseases in the country today and the leading killer disease among women, this according to the population-based Cancer registry of the Ramon Aboitiz Fundation Inc,” Osmeña said, adding that according to the Philippine Medical Society of Oncology, three out of 100 women will get breast cancer before reaching the age of 75 and one out of 100 will die before reaching 75 years old.

Osmeña said that majority of the women are diagnosed only in the later stage of the cancer based on the report of the Eduardo J. Aboitiz Cancer Center.

To prevent this from happening, she said that there is a need for the city government to intervene since breast cancer management requires early detection, diagnosis and treatment for better success rates.

The ordinance covers female residents in the city, ages 20 to 75 years old. Aiming to protect and promote public health, the City Health Department shall conduct awareness campaign on the early detection of breast cancer in all 80 barangays in the city.

The ordinance will provide free breast screening program consisting of mammography and ultrasound for indigent women residents. The city government, however, is yet to procure the P10 million worth Mobile Imaging Faci-lity which includes a mammogram, ultrasound machine, a customized bus, and other amenities inside the mobile facility. The procurement will be charged against the city’s share of the Pagcor operations.

Section 5 of the ordinance states that the enforcement of the ordinance is commissioned to the City Health Department that will assign two personnel who are qualified to operate the mobile machine.

The ordinance, however, is still subject to the approval of Mayor Michael Rama.

Meanwhile, regional health officials cautioned women against leading diseases such as cervical and breast cancer as it celebrates women’s month.

Doctor Jeanette Pauline Arellano-Cortes of the Department of Health-7 said that cervical cancer is the second leading cause of women’s death in the country, next to breast cancer.

As in any cancer, it is best battled upon early detection, Cortes, who heads the Non-communicable Disease section of DOH Central Visayas said.

With this, the DOH official urged the women to do self examination and see a doctor if they start feeling something unusual. A monthly self examination for breast cancer is a must.

“Self breast examination is done every month specifically one week after menstruation. It is done facing the mirror or lying down. If you feel a lump or see dimple-like surface like that of an orange, notice a bloody and smelly discharge, you experience sudden weight and appetite loss, you should see your doctor,” she said.

Risk factors for breast cancer include hereditary factors and smoking.

While it is most commonly attributed to women, Cortes stressed that even men are prone to this disease though in a slim margin.

As with cervical cancer, regular screening through pap smear is best to be done being a “silent killer” unlike breast cancer with visible signs as a lump.

“Cervical cancer is usually detected in late stage because it is in this time that the patient feels the symptoms most. Pap smear is ideally done three years after the start of sexual activity. Though, it is not advisable for girls below 21 years old. It is required annually for the first three years and the follow up is two to three years after given no unusual feeling that needs immediate attention,” Cortes said.

This type of cancer is transmitted sexually and is risky for those who have multiple sex partners of up to six, women with more than seven children.

“Long-term continuous use of oral contraception of more than ten years could also be a risk factor though this is not absolute. It is advisable that a woman pauses after six months to one year of oral contraception. She may opt to take another type of contraception like natural. Then, she can return to oral contraception after,” Cortes said.

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) types 6 and 18 are the cause of cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer symptoms include abnormal excessive and prolonged vaginal bleeding which is longer than the normal monthly period, smelling vaginal discharge, and pain during sexual intercourse.

“You are likely to develop cervical cancer if you start sexual intercourse at a young age. There is an HPV vaccine available in the market which can be gotten by visiting a doctor,” Cortes said.

She added that recent studies showed that the vaccine is most effective to girls who have not started sexual activity, preferably aged 10 to 14 years old.

A 2014 data from the DOH shows that cancer is the leading cause of death in Central Visayas region with a total of 2,475 cases. —FPL (FREEMAN)