Event Geek

Volunteer doctors, nurses, and medical practitioners demonstrate the proper procedure of conducting a breast self-examination during the active breast screening activity organized by the Eduardo J. Aboitiz Cancer Center of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. and the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center last Aug. 28. The screening benefited 62 women in Cebu City.

The Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI), together with the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) Breast Clinic, conducted an active breast screening activity last Aug. 28 at the Eduardo J. Aboitiz Cancer Center (EJACC) of RAFI.

The screening benefited 62 women living in Cebu City, particularly in Barangays Labangon, Buhisan, and Budlaan.

Breast screening is one of the programs of EJACC in the promotion of early cancer detection and prevention. Another program is the Moonwalk, which EJACC will hold on Oct. 23 to promote the importance of observing monthly breast self-examination for women aged 20 and beyond.

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among Cebuano women, based on the Cebu population-based Cancer Registry of RAFI. From 1993 to 2007, Eduardo J. Aboitiz Cancer Center (EJACC) of RAFI recorded a total of 3,005 reported breast cancer cases in Metro Cebu.

General risk factors of breast cancer include being a woman and aging. Some specific risk factors are family history of breast cancer, first menstrual cycle before 12 years old, menopause beyond 55 years old, never having children, and having first childbirth after 30 years old. But 70 to 80 percent of breast cancer cases have no identifiable risk factors other than being a woman and growing older.

EJACC cautions the public to be wary of the warning signals of breast cancer, including a mass or lump in the breast, change in the size or contour of the breast, a bloodstain or clear fluid discharge from the nipple, and redness of the skin on the breast or nipple, among others. These changes may be detected during breast self-examination.

To detect breast cancer early, an individual is advised to undergo monthly breast examination by age 20, an annual health worker examination by age 30, and a yearly mammogram by age 50.

Ronald delos Reyes, program coordinator of EJACC, said that the special time to do breast self-examination is five to seven days after menstruation for menstruating women, and the first or last day of the month for menopausal women.

EJACC is the one of the programs under the Integrated Development focus area of RAFI, which addresses the foundations needed to enhance quality of life and community. Its other focus areas are Micro-finance & Entrepreneurship, Leadership & Citizenship, Culture & Heritage, and Education.

For more information about breast cancer detection and prevention, please call 254-6351 or 256-3287 and look for Gina Mariquit.