Event Geek

A total of 202 women benefited from two separate breast and cervical screening activities initiated by the Eduardo J. Aboitiz Cancer Center (EJACC) of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) last Feb. 12 and Feb. 19.

Ninety-five women were screened in Reinhard Wirtgen Memorial Hospital in Alegria, Cebu, an activity of EJACC in collaboration with the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) OB-Gyne Department held last Feb. 12.

Around 107 women were screened last Feb. 19 at EJACC located inside the VSMMC Compound. The activity was in partnership with the Integrated Midwife Association of the Philippines-Cebu Midwife Clinic and VSMMC Breast Clinic.

EJACC is a program under the Integrated Development focus area, one of the five key focus areas in RAFI’s comprehensive approach to elevating lives and communities. Its other focus areas are Micro-finance & Entrepreneurship, Culture & Heritage, Citizenship & Leadership, and Education.

A forum on breast and cervical cancer was conducted before the screening procedures.

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among Filipino women while cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women.

In its campaign against breast cancer, EJACC urged women to adopt early detection measures, such as monthly breast self-examination by age 20, yearly health examination by age 30, and yearly mammogram by age 50.

“Regular breast and cervical screening is very important to know and detect early stage of abnormalities and pre-cancerous growth or early malignancies of cancer,” Ronald delos Reyes, program coordinator of EJACC, said.

He also advised women to take preventive measures like maintaining a healthy lifestyle and nutrition, exercise, proper hygiene, avoiding stresses and vices, using barrier contraceptive, maintaining monogamous sexual relationships, and getting human papilloma virus vaccination.

Cervical cancer can be detected through various screenings such as pap smear, visual inspection with acetic acid, colposcopy, HPV testing, and single visit approach.

“Learning the facts about breast cancer could save lives so let us know, fight, and win,” Dr. Claudin Biodongan of VSMMC Breast Clinic said.

“Cervical cancer is preventable with early detection and treatment,” Gertrudes Calsada of IMAP Cebu Midwife Clinic pointed out.

Jocelyn Leyson, a recipient of the screening, said that she availed of the free screening, which she considers an opportunity for early cancer detection and prevention. For her, it was better to know any early malignancies and treat it rather than to shell out for expensive cancer treatment for late cancer stages.

For more information about breast and cervical cancer, please contact EJACC at 254-6351 and look for Gina Mariquit.