Early detection is best prevention against breast cancer —health experts

Health experts encouraged women to attend regular breast checkups as early detection is the best prevention against cancer.

According to Mariz Umali’s “24 Oras” report on Wednesday, one breast cancer patient dies every hour in the Philippines, while 9,926 breast cancer deaths were recorded in 2020.

“Maaari pong mas mataas pa dun, mas mataas pa dun ang ating nakukuha na number,”  Dr. Solidad Balete, Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center (JRRMMC) medical oncology department chairman, said.

(It can be even higher than that, the number that we can get is even higher than that.)

Health experts reminded patients to attend regular checkups as breast cancer is not diagnosed immediately.

“We should be checking ourselves on a monthly basis and when we start reaching age 50 we should be submitting ourselves to our doctors for clinical breast exam,” Vince Sumergido, Department of Health (DOH) Cancer Division supervising health program officer, said.

“If may makapa na sila na bukol then they need to seek medical consultation for further work up or posible pwede na silang mabiopsy,” Dr. Mela Garces Chua, JRRMMC chief fellow medical oncology department, said.

(If they have a lump then they need to seek medical consultation for further work up or possibly they can have a biopsy.)

“Kaya ang pinaka importante sa lahat talaga early detection and treatment, they are the key to survival and affordable care,” Dr. Norman San Agustin, president and CEO of Asian Breast Center, said.

(The most important of all is early detection and treatment, they are the key to survival and affordable care.)

Among the most common signs of breast cancer is a lump in the breast area, changes in the breast’s skin, discharge from the nipple, uneven breast size, and sometimes pain.

The DOH said breast checkup is free because it is part of the PhilHealth Konsulta Packages.—Richa Noriega/LDF, GMA Integrated News