THE Mandaue City Council recently passed two resolutions supporting and promoting awareness on breast cancer, which can hit anyone regardless of sex.

Also the City, through its partnership with ICanServe Foundation Inc., will give free breast cancer screening.

The Breast Cancer Awareness Month is observed every October in the Philippines and other countries.

On Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2019, the City will launch its Pink October campaign and it will light the City Hall with pink lights.

During its 10th and 11th regular sessions, the City Council passed resolutions supporting the Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The measure approved during the 10th session encourages all the City employees to pin or tie a pink ribbon or wear a pink shirt to signify their support.

“During October, it has been customary to pin or tie a pink ribbon or wear a pink shirt to show solidarity with breast cancer patients and their families, acknowledge survivors, remember those who succumbed to the disease, and express support to the activities that are being done to fight breast cancer,” the resolution read.

The resolution passed during the 11th session requests all the hospitals, medical facilities, shopping malls and other retail establishments in Mandaue City to offer discounts, promos or special “Pink October” deals.

“It is essential to instill in the general public’s minds that we can fight and prevent breast cancer through proper awareness, early detection, and treatment; hospitals, medical facilities, shopping malls, and other retail establishments in the City of Mandaue are encouraged to help raise awareness and signify their support on breast cancer awareness by offering discounts, promos or special deals during the entire month of October 2019,” a portion of the resolution read.

As breast cancer is the most treatable cancer if detected early, ICanServe Cebu coordinator Mary Anne Solomon urged adult men and women to get checked.

She said a free breast cancer screening can be availed of at Parkmall all Fridays and Saturdays, starting on Oct. 11. The screening will start at 1 p.m. and end at 6 p.m.

Surgeons will conduct the screenings. If one of them found out that a person has a cyst in the breast, the latter would be referred for an x-ray and mammography.

Aside from the free breast cancer screening, ICanServe and the City will organize a series of zumba and aerodance sessions, and a run.

ICanServe, which empowers women living with breast cancer to have a voice in their own health care, has been a partner of the City for four years already. (KFD)