|
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Espina: Womanhood racing against time
By Mate Espina
Uncensored
Yesterday, AVON, the cosmetics company, launched its "Kiss Goodbye to Breast Cancer" walk-for-a-cause program, encouraging everyone, both male and female to
help heighten awareness and raise funds in their fight against breast cancer.
Breast cancer remains the top killer of women in the Philippines , mostly because many of these women found out they have the disease when its already at a late stage and chances of cancer to go away becomes slimmer.
Negros Occidental alone posts a very high figure of women diagnosed with breast cancer with 1,500 cases in the province since year 2000 when breast cancer advocates started monitoring the disease.
Dr. Adonis Guancia who heads the Wellness Center for breast cancer patients at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) said that there are about 250 to 300 breast cancer patients diagnosed yearly in the province or at least one every two to three days.
This is quite alarming. But what is sadder is only a fifth of these patients get treatment since many belong to the low to middle-income groups. Worse, only a sixteenth of them avail of radio therapy which can be costly at P150,000 - P200,000 per course, and besides, this treatment is only offered in Cebu or Manila .
Many too do not know that while this disease afflicts women in general, men can also be susceptible to breast cancer and according to Dr. Guancia, there have been five men in the province who were diagnosed of such since they started their monitoring give years ago.
The disease has been ravaging and killing women all over the world. The figures have spoken and we don't even have to look beyond the province to start helping not just in funding breast cancer centers but more importantly in advocacy work.
Ironically, CLMMRH has been a recipient of two mammogram machines yet these are not functioning due to missing parts which would make it work. Understandably, CLMMRH lacks funds for its day-to-day operation (I should know, my late mom was the hospital administrator before she passed away.) Yet, it's just sad to note that nothing is being done to acquire these missing parts and use it for early detection of breast cancer.
Dr. Guancia also said that his wish is to make the Breast Cancer Clinic within the hospital functional. For now, the center can only accommodate walk-in
patients for diagnosis at least an hour or two everyday since they lack manpower and don't even have a secretary to man the clinic.
I do hope this appeal will touch the hearts of some health professionals, particularly those who are waiting to leave for abroad, to volunteer their
services at the center while they still can. Also if our nursing schools can help out as well, this kind of exposure will probably encourage our health
professionals to be true to their vow of serving others instead of focusing so much on preparing these nurses for work abroad.
We are lucky that we still have Avon and other anti-breast cancer groups like Bosom Care who have been at the forefront in this advocacy yet a lot of women still don't know the basics of self-testing for early detection of the disease.
Many of us probably know at least one person who have been afflicted or even die of breast cancer. I had one aunt, a cousin of my late mom who died from it, and another aunt who had a mastectomy, all because they found out they had the cancer when it was already at a latter stage.
October is Masskara Month, but more than that, it is also Breast Cancer Month. We have a number of activities lined-up and while we go out and enjoy the offerings of Masskara, let us also join this worthy cause - even to lend our voices and start talking and educating everyone about early detection of breast cancer.
For P50 per registrant, let us sign up on October 1 to join the Bosom Care breast cancer run and again on October 22 for Avon 's "Kiss Goodbye to Breast Cancer" walk. Those interested to join the Bosom Care run can register at the Sun.Star Bacolod office at St. Therese Bldg., Rizal-Locsin Sts., Bacolod City. It's a worthwhile cause which should not only involve women but men as well. As Avon would say it, it is truly "womanhood racing against time" and for many, time is running out.(r)
(September 20, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
|
