Health issue tackled in PAS convention

CEBU, Philippines - Health was a crucial topic discussed in the 13th regional conference of the Philippine Association of Secretaries and Administrative Professionals Inc. Cebu Chapter (PAS) at the Quest Hotel yesterday.

The conference was attended by office professionals, administrative assistants, executive secretaries, and human resource and office assistants.

Ronald delos Reyes, program coordinator of Eduardo J. Aboitiz Cancer Center, said it is important for participants to have substantial knowledge about cancer in general and breast cancer in particular, especially that most office workers are women.

In fact, he said, they must be agents and advocates of cancer prevention.

In a five-year survey from 2003-2007, Metro Cebu recorded 9,318 people afflicted with cancer. There are also 5,291 people who died of cancer.

Delos Reyes said that from 10 Cebuanos diagnosed with cancer, only one was diagnosed at an early stage.

Breast cancer is the number one killer of women in the country. In fact, it is the number one issue among women for the past 15 years across the globe. It is the leading type of cancer affecting women both in terms of incident and mortality.

For the past five years, those who have been diagnosed with breast cancer are getting younger.

Delos Reyes explained that if a woman is diagnosed with cancer at stage 0, there is 99 percent hope for survival. When diagnosed at stage 1, there is 85 – 90 percent survival rate. When diagnosed at stage 2, there is a 70 – 80 percent survival rate. When diagnosed at stage 3, there is a 40 – 50 percent survival rate. When diagnosed at stage 4, only a five-percent survival rate remains.

He said that women at the age of 20 must have a monthly breast self-exam while those at age 30 should have an annual clinical breast examination. At the age of 40, women should have annual mammography for early detection of breast cancer.

Meanwhile, for 15 years, liver, lung, colorectal and prostate cancers are the most common types of cancer that have affected men in Cebu.

In the developed countries, liver is not an issue since they have perfected their vaccination especially on children. This is not the case in developing countries, however. (FREEMAN)