BAGUIO CITY – The City Health Services Office (CHSO) under Dr. Celia Flor Brillantes, continues to emphasize the importance of cancer awareness as it remains one of the leading causes of death in the Summer Capital for the past three years.
In a media forum, Feb. 12, at the Baguio Convention and Cultural Center, Dr. Ana Marie R. Banta, CHSO Cancer Control Program Manager, said vascular diseases are the top causes of death from 2022-2024 in the city, followed by cancer and heart disease.
Nationally, cancer ranks as the third leading cause of death as February marks National Cancer Awareness Month, with February 4 being World Cancer Day with the theme, “United By Unique”.
Cancer incidence in Baguio has increased through the years with 409 deaths in 2022, 466 in 2023, and 566 in 2024 while the primary organs affected varied each year: lung, breast, and colon in 2022; lung, breast, and brain in 2023; and breast, lung, and blood-related cancers in 2024, she said.
“Cancer has been known to be a death sentence, but in actuality pwede siyang gamotin. Nagagamot po ang cancer,” Banta stressed.
She reiterated the importance of checking for its four common early warning signs like rapid weight loss, fatigue, body pain, and lumps in any part of the body.
The city government is also providing assistance for cancer patients through various programs to lessen medical bills for treatment and to raise awareness in detecting early signs of cancer as well.
The Department of Health (DOH) recommends three practices to strengthen resistance against cancer: Tamang pagkain(proper diet), Ehersisyo (exercise), Disiplina (discipline) against vices like smoking or alcohol consumption, Banta said.
Two key programs are also available at the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC): Cancer Assistance Fund (CAF) and Cancer and Supportive-Palliative Medicines Access Program (CSPMAP) which can aid in medicine and laboratories needed by cancer patients.
The city’s efforts in the prevention of cancer includes the localization of National Integrated Cancer Control Act (NICCA) with the approval in November last year of the ordinance of the Baguio City Integrated Cancer Control Program authored by Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda who chairs the august body’s committee on health.
The measure provides a city-wide approach to cancer prevention,early detection, treatment, and survivorship and also ensures access to effective cancer prevention.
It mandates the city government to establish a comprehensive cancer control program and was introduced to the barangays with the Punong Barangays, Kagawads on Health, and Health volunteers.
There is also a regular conduct of city-wide screening mainly for breast and cervical cancer in the city’s16 health centers and joint activities with the DOH, BGHMC-OBGYNE, and other private groups.
A dedicated cancer care clinic at the CHSO located at T.Alonzo was also established with two medical oncologists who are on duty every Thursday from 10:00 AM-1:00 PM where patients are referred by the health centers.
Health education is also being held at health centers including through regular social media posting at their official website.
The CHSO has a telemedicine collaboration with BGHMC where medical officers in health centers directly refer patients to the departments of the hospital and an ongoing activity with the hospital’s and DOH’s radiology departments where patients assessed at the health centers with breast mass are referred for a free breast ultrasound and mammography.
Also in the pipeline are future programs of the CHSO like Free Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) at health centers and Clinical Breast Exam (CBE) scheduled at the City Hall Clinic every 4th Thursday of each month.
On February 24, 9am to 3 pm at People’s Park (Malcolm Square), the CHSO will conduct a culminating activity for Cancer Awareness where cancer screenings will be given for free like Digital Rectal Examination, Breast Screening, Cervical Screening, and Chest X-Ray.** Lineah Fesway/PIO Intern/gk
