‘Pink October’
Ilonggo docs lead drive on breast cancer awareness

By Florence F. Hibionada
           
“It can be cured and we are here to help.”

Top Ilonggo surgeons have banded in the literacy drive on breast cancer.  Known to be the second leading cause of cancer-deaths and ranks first among women victims, the Ilonggo doctors, members of the Philippine College of Surgeons (PCS) – Panay Chapter will put into action mass-based outreach programs here.

With foremost priority set on the information campaign relative to breast cancer incidents, the PCS –Panay group aims to relay the message – breast cancer happens but early detection cures.

As such, the surgeons headed by PCS –Panay Chapter president, Dr. Noel Binayas announced a comprehensive campaign as they call on for community support and involvement.

In an interview, Dr. Gaudencio Franco told The News Today of lectures scheduled next Friday that would gather not only medical experts but breast cancer survivors.

Their stories of survival, Dr. Franco added, will be the living testimonies of why help should be heeded at the earliest time.  Most often, he continued, patients seek help on the advance stage of cancer thus preventing help and sadly, death to the afflicted.

Alongside the lectures will be a free workshop for barangay health workers and local folks willing to learn the basics of self-breast examination. 

“We will start in Barangay South Fundidor in the city but in due time, we will go out and do the same out of towns,” he said while calling for women in known high-risk age bracket to avail of free check-up.  “If we have a suspected case, a noticeable lump for instance, we can do the on-the-spot biopsy.”

This is the first mass-based program for the PCS-Panay Chapter patterned after the successful implementation made by their counterparts in Cebu.