Early detection still the best defense vs. breast cancer
The Philippines is one of the countries with the highest
incidence of breast cancer in Asia. The
country has been in the list for years because the disease continues to affect
a lot of Filipinos, young and old, male and female.
“Breast cancer cannot be prevented but the risk can be
lowered by changing our lifestyle. Despite this, it still affects a lot of
people, young and old, male and female alike. Our best defense is still early
detection. This is the goal of our Pink Ribbon Campaign - to promote breast
cancer awareness and early detection,” said Dr. Melanie T. Cruz, secretary of
the Philippine Breast Cancer Society.
Pink Ribbon for Breast Cancer is an
annual event held in observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The opening
activity was held at the Event Center of SM City San Lazaro, and was
spearheaded by the Philippine Breast Cancer Society (PBCS) and SM
Cares, the corporate social responsibility arm of SM Prime Holdings,
supported by the Department of Health (DOH).
Attended by hundreds of women, advocates and
volunteer doctors, this year’s Pink Ribbon for Breast Cancer focused on
educational talks and sharing of experiences by breast cancer warriors. DOH cancer
program head Dr. Clarito Cairo conducted a talk on the importance of breast
cancer awareness, and at the same time taught women how to detect and be
protected against the risk.
“Every year, the number of patients suffering from
breast cancer continues to rise. This is why we hold the Pink Ribbon for Breast
Cancer yearly, to continue educating women that early detection and early
intervention is very important,” said SM Cares Program on Women & Breastfeeding
Program Director Bernadette Velasco.
Celebrity Suzi Entrata-Abrera hosted the
event, and inspirational talks from film director Bibeth Orteza and actress
Melissa de Leon, well-known breast cancer survivors, were featured. Free clinical
breast examination was also administered by volunteer health professionals.
Pink Ribbon for Breast Cancer was also held
at the event center of SM City Telabastagan.
The
Philippine Breast Cancer Society, founded in 2009, is a medical organization
dedicated solely to the management of breast cancer. Its members are made up of
doctors under different specialties who are kept up-to-date on breast cancer
management through annual Breast Cancer Symposium.
SM Cares aimed at supporting the communities
where its malls are present. Other SM Cares initiatives for women include institutionalizing
breastfeeding stations across all SM Supermalls nationwide as part of its
program to provide breastfeeding mothers the convenience and privacy in nourishing
their babies. Last August, SM Cares Program on Women supported Breastfeeding
Pinays and DOH
in the annual celebration of “Hakab Na!” in observance of
Breastfeeding Awareness Month.
To
know more about SM Cares, you may visit www.smcares.com.ph,
www.facebook.com/OfficialSMCares,
or e-mail smcares@smsupermalls.com.
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