BAGUIO CITY, Oct. 21 – – The Department of Health Center for Health and Development Cordillera (DOH – CAR reminds women anew to take charge of their health and include breast screening in their regular health agenda.
Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) oncologist Dr. Mary Gay Buliyat, in a DOH–CAR- led media forum promoting the Breast Cancer Awareness Month among other health observances this month, said breast cancer remains to be a major health concern with around 2.1 million women worldwide acquiring the disease and with around 650,000 deaths. In the Philippines, breast cancer is also a major health concern with more than 94,000 new cases recorded.
At the BGHMC, breast cancer is the number one cancer being treated in the hospital with around four or five patients out of every 10 cancer cases, Buliyat said.
Aside from being a deadly disease, breast cancer also causes sufferings to family members and the society, she added.
On the brighter side, Buliyat said breast cancer is screenable and can be cured or can have better chances of being treated if detected early, thus, she reminds women to have regular screening or clinical evaluation.
Risk of having breast cancer is higher in older women but there are also risk factors of acquiring the disease at younger ages which is why screening and clinical evaluation is important, she explained.
At age 40 annual mammography can already be an option but at 45 and above, one should already include it in their annual regular health check-up. As a breast cancer awareness strategy, women at age 25 should already start clinical evaluation or breast examination/screening, she added.
Aside from Breast Cancer Awareness, DOH – CAR, in the said media forum, also led the promotion of New Born Screening, mental health and bone and joint awareness, along with updates on COVID–19.
DOH–CAR Regional Director Dr. Ruby Constantino stressed the importance of people to remain aware and well–informed on important health information. We should learn to live healthy and safely with COVID–19 as long as there is no vaccine and identified medicine for it and other illnesses, she said.** JDP/CCD-PIA CAR
