25 men join talk, free prostate check up

ABOUT 25 male employees and dependents joined the lecture and prostate check-up conducted by Dr. Michael Aponesto, a urologist, recently held at the Visayan Electric Co. (Veco)-Banilad clinic.

The activity, spearheaded by the Kaibigan (values clarification funshop program) Batch 5, in cooperation with Getz Pharmaceutical, was aimed at promoting wellness among the kaibigans and their families.

The beneficiaries of the free prostate examination were Veco male employees, who are 40 years old and above. The prostate examination was to detect problems in the reproductive system of males.

Dr. Aponesto said that symptoms of problems in the prostate gland include difficulty in urination, too frequent urination and erectile dysfunction.

Screening methods such as the rectal examination is for the detection of problems in the prostate gland, which could be a sign of prostate disease or cancer.

Although the exact causes of prostate cancer remain unknown, the risk factors for Filipinos have been listed as age and family history.

He recommended that males within the risk ages of 45 years old and above have to undergo check-up at least once every two years.

For those 50 years old and above, rectal examination should be done yearly.

Dr. Aponesto said that although the Prostate Cancer Awareness Month was celebrated last June, efforts are continuing to prevent the disease.

In Cebu, prostate examinations are conducted for free at the government-run Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC). Other agencies actively helping in the awareness program are the Eduardo J. Aboitiz Cancer Center and the Cebu Cancer Society.