Push Admin

20230906-free-cancer-screening-rizal-MT22

Article (news)

ARRA PEREZ

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/20230906-free-cancer-screening-rizal-MT22.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Antipolo residents receive free ultrasound, cryotherapy, breast and cervical cancer screening on at Kaulayaw Coffee on Sumulong Highway, Antipolo City, Rizal on September 6, 2023. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File.</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — February is National Cancer Awareness Month in the Philippines, and health experts are calling on the public to talk about cancer—which is considered a &quot;major public concern&quot; but can be prevented and cured.</p><p>Screening, early detection, treatment completion, and preventive measures are keys to fighting cancer —and winning, said Dr. Mae Dolendo of the National Integrated Cancer Control Act (NICCA) Council.</p><p>&quot;When we hear cancer, we always take it as a death sentence—which is not,&quot; Dolendo said in a Department of Health (DOH) online forum Wednesday.</p><p>Patients who continue to live with &quot;hope and faith&quot; recover better compared to those who do not, said Dr. Manuel Francisco Roxas, chairperson of the Philippine College of Surgeons Cancer Commission Foundation, in a separate media forum in Manila.</p><p>The Philippine Cancer Society has recorded an estimated 141,021 new cases and 86,337 deaths in 2020.</p><p>Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally, according to the World Health Organization, and the third leading cause of death in the Philippines.</p><div><strong>CAUSES</strong></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/20230906-free-cancer-screening-rizal-MT16.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner"><span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(65, 65, 65);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none">Antipolo residents receive free ultrasound, cryotherapy, breast and cervical cancer screening on at Kaulayaw Coffee on Sumulong Highway, Antipolo City, Rizal on September 6, 2023. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File.</em></span><em> </em></span></span></span></div><p>Roxas said aging is the biggest risk factor of cancer.</p><p>Genetic factors also cause cancer, along with environmental factors like smoking and drinking alcohol.</p><p>&quot;Kahit healthy tayo, kahit nag-e-exercise tayo, basta tumatanda tayo, tumataas po ang chance na pwedeng mag-cancer. Eighty-five percent due to aging, mga 15 percent dahil may genetic factor,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;May environmental factors like smoking, alcohol intake, obesity, iyong hindi gumagalaw masyado, tamad mag-exercise, sedentary,&quot; he added.</p><p>Roxas explained that as people grow older, there is a higher chance for genetic mutations, which can cause cancer.</p><div><strong>WARNING SIGNS</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="950" height="534" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rcEoOQlc-_Y?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>Dolendo shared early warning signs of cancer for adults include: lumps or swelling, unusual bleeding, unexplained weight loss, pain that won&#x27;t go away, sores that don&#x27;t heal, cough or changes in voice or breathing, mouth or tongue ulcer that won&#x27;t go away, bloating that won&#x27;t go away, trouble swallowing, indigestion, or heartburn, changes in toilet habits, any change to the breast, and a new mole or change in a mole.</p><p>For adolescents and children, early warning signs are: pallor, bruising or bleeding, general bone pain, lumps or swelling—especially if painless and without fever or other signs and symptoms, unexplained weight loss or fever, persistent cough or shortness of breath, swelling at night, eye changes - white pupil, new onset squint, visual loss, bruising, or swelling around the eyes, abdominal swelling, headaches, especially if unusually</p><p>persistent or severe, vomiting (especially early morning or worsening over days), limb or bone pain, and swelling without trauma or signs of infection, Dolendo said.</p><p>However, she said these signs do not automatically mean cancer, so it is best to consult one&#x27;s doctor who will then recommend tests.</p><p>Based on the 2020 Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN), the most prevalent types of cancer in the Philippines are breast, lung, colorectal, liver, prostate, cervical, leukemia, thyroid, and ovary.</p><p>Roxas also explained why cancers have different &quot;stages&quot;.</p><p>&quot;Usually stage 1, 2, 3, 4. Ang stage 1 ang pinakamaaga, ang stage 4 ay kumalat na. Kaya nila ginagawang may stage kasi dalawa ang rason: unang-una, para malaman anong prognosis, kung mabubuhay ba o hindi... Pag tumataas ang stage, iyong chance na mabuhay ay bumaba,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;At the same time, iyong treatment ay depende sa stage. Hindi pare-parehong treatment. Iyong treatment sa stage 1, iba sa stage 2, stage 3, stage 4. Dumadami ang treatment, nagiging mas mahal habang tumataas ang stage,&quot; he added.</p><div><strong>CURE AND TREATMENT</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="950" height="534" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dNZeUqZuwzM?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>Dolendo explained cancer is a &quot;difficult&quot; illness, but curable, treatable, and &quot;dynamic&quot; research is ready to provide help to patients.</p><p>&quot;You don&#x27;t expect na ang gamot dyan is isang linggo ng antibiotics, like pneumonia... Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy were developed basically to deal with this very catastrophic illness. You need to kill the cancer cells kasi cancer comes from a single cell. Pag may naiwan na isang cancer cell dyan, tutubo iyan siya ulit,&quot; she said.</p><p>&quot;Ang cancer hindi naman iyan maghihintay sa&#x27;yo kung kailan ka ready pupunta sa doktor. While you are sitting there, it is multiplying. And the longer you wait, the bigger it will get, kakalat siya, mas mahirap siyang gamutin, mas lalaki ang gastos mo,&quot; she added.</p><p>The health expert said cancer involves long-term treatment and medication, and high financial cost is among the major challenges in the Philippines.</p><p>Roxas said PhilHealth packages or assistance from the Malasakit Center and private organizations are available to ease the hospital expenses of patients.</p><p>&quot;Unang-una, maganda iyong doctors niyo nag-uusap. Iyong radiation-oncologist, surgeon, endocrinologist... Sa isang visit lang, may plano na para seamless sa pasiyente... Napapayo ka rin, ito iyong mga pwedeng available na suporta,&quot; he shared.</p><p>There is a five-year surveillance for cancer patients. After the period, the chances for recurrence are already low.</p><p>&quot;Karamihan ng mga cancers, hindi masabing lusot na sila or cured na sila hanggang umabot ng at least five years... We want to give hope, pero sa saming mga doktor, alam namin hindi pa lusot iyan hanggang maka-five years ang pasyente. Kasi kung umulit iyan, usually in the first five years. So binabantayan namin iyan,&quot; Roxas explained.</p><div><strong>PREVENTION</strong></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/20230613-hpv-vaccination-makati-JC5124.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner"><span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(65, 65, 65);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none">School-age girls form a ribbon, as an awareness activity, after receiving their Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines at the Makati Coliseum in Makati City on June 13, 2023. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File.</em></span><em> </em></span></span></span></div><p>Roxas said screening—looking for cancer in one&#x27;s body before symptoms manifest—and early detection—detecting a cancer at the earliest possible stage—are the keys to preventing cancer.</p><p>&quot;Mahirap i-prevent iyong genetic kasi nasa cells natin iyan. Ang proven na nakakabawas ng cancer, nakaka-prevent ng cancer: stop smoking, alcohol intake just in moderation, try not to be obese,&quot; he shared.</p><p>&quot;And then screening. Importante ang screening kasi kahit healthy na healthy ka, basta tumatanda tayo, tumataas ang risk. And iyong screenable for everyone, colorectal; for women, breast and cervical; for men, prostate. Iyong ibang cancers hindi ganoon kadaling i-screen unfortunately... Prevention din ang vaccines against HPV (human papillomavirus), for cervical cancer,&quot; he added.</p><p>Tefel Pesigan-Valentino, executive director of the Philippine College of Surgeons Cancer Commission Foundation, believes among the best ways to prevent cancer is to openly talk about it - which may also help in the psycho-social well-being of patients and their families.</p><p>&quot;Help Filipinos be comfortable about talking about cancer. Prevalent kasi siya sa Asian countries. Mas mahiyain tayo, mas takot tayo versus other countries... It&#x27;s okay to talk about this. We have to talk about this. And wehave to make each other understand that we are not alone,&quot; she said.</p><p>&quot;Sinasabi nga nila, kapag ang isang member ng pamilya ay nagkaroon ng cancer, ang buong pamilya po ay may cancer,” she added.</p><p>Pesigan-Valentino shared the experience of her father who got a late diagnosis—finding out he was already at stage 4 and passing away 4 months later.</p><p>“It was a traumatic and very devastating, life-changing experience for the entire family... I hope what I know now, I knew it years back because we could have handled the situation better. We could have been stronger... That&#x27;s what we&#x27;re hoping for,” she said.</p><p>Free cancer screenings for breast, cervix, prostate, and thyroid will be available during the PCS Cancer Commission&#x27;s Ribbons of Love Cancer Run on February 11 at the CCP Complex in Pasay.</p><p>On February 14 to 15, the fifth anniversary of the National Integrated Cancer Control Act (NICCA), the law that aims to provide cancer health services to patients, will be marked in Davao City.</p><p>Meanwhile, the Philippine National Cancer Summit will be held from February 29 to March 1 in Cubao, Quezon City.</p><div><strong>FROM THE ARCHIVES:</strong></div><div><ivs-player data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-vid="2640463"></ivs-player></div><script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script>

<p>Screening, early detection, treatment completion, and preventive measures are keys to fighting -- and winning over -- cancer.</p>

Screening, early detection, treatment completion, and preventive measures are keys to fighting -- and winning over -- cancer.

Health experts share cure, preventive measures vs cancer

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

News

Health experts share cure, preventive measures vs cancer

ARRA PEREZ,

ABS-CBN News

Published Feb 07, 2024 10:09 PM PHT

Read More:

health

cancer

Department of Health

DOH

National Cancer Awareness Month

ANC

ANC promo

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.