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Tuesday, November 01, 2005
Breast cancer is leading cause of women's death
By Ramon Salvilla and Lory Ann B. Bilbao
"Women can survive breast cancer."
This is dedicated to every women by Philam Life and Gonzaga Agency during its symposium on Friday entitled Cancer: Fighting & Surviving as Family Empowering the Woman of Today.
Dr. Ma. Socorro I. Martinez specialist in breast cancer explained that breast cancer is the leading cause of death among women and is the second leading cancer type infecting both sexes in the Philippines.
She disclosed that over 14,043 women were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005.
In her presentation, she showed that there are two patterns of breast cancer, sporadic and hereditary.
Among the risk factors of contracting breast cancer, twenty five percent according to Martinez is inherited genetic factors while environmental factors attribute 75 percent.
Female aged 35 were commonly at risk.
Among these common risk factors were hormonal, nulliparity or no history of pregnancy, prior history of cancer and daily alcohol consumption.
Martinez added that if signs like lump in the breast, unusual change in the size and shape of the breast, one breast is lower than the other, discharge or bleeding of the nipple, change in skin of the nipple and enlarged lymph node at the neck and under arm, are warning for a contraction of breast cancer and one should unhesitantly go to the doctor for a mammogram or breast check up.
While location, number of children, breast size, caffeine intake, cyst and non- hyper plastic breast disease, brassiere wires, deodorant, and trauma to breast should not be perceived to be causes of breast cancer.
Martinez explained that there are two examinations women can undergo. These are physical and technical exams. She showed that women could examine their breasts themselves and go for mammogram every year.
Mammogram though is not perfectly accurate in detecting cancer of the breast for it is only 80 to 85 percent accurate. Though breast cancer is inevitable, unexpected, she pushed that early detection is the best answer for cure.
A breast cancer survivor who shared her experiences said that the best medicine and doctor is no other then God the Almighty.
Concepcion B. Gonzaga, agency manager of the Gonzaga and Associates-which is one of the hosts of the event, said that winning the battle against cancer depends on early detection, intervention and treatment and financial readiness. She said that all three couldn't be above the other.
(November 1, 2005 issue)
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