Newsbriefs

Breast cancer awareness month

MONTHLY breast self-examinations and a healthy lifestyle should be encouraged among Filipina women to help avoid breast cancer, health advocates said in a forum yesterday.

In yesterday’s 888 forum, breast cancer survivor Lani Osmeña said early detection is key to one’s survival from breast cancer.

She was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer in December last year and she underwent her last chemotherapy in April this year.

“I was lucky that it was detected early. I will have to be very vigilant and very careful that it will not come back,” Osmeña said.

She said persons with breast cancer should stop smoking and drinking alcohol.

The Eduardo J. Aboitiz Cancer Center (EJACC) is spearheading the observance of the annual “Breast Cancer Awareness Month” this October with two public dialogues together with the group Information on Breast Cancer and other Services (ICANSERVE).

The EJACC and ICANSERVE will hold a “Breast Cancer Summit” on Oct. 1 at the City Sports Club in Cebu Business Park and a “Breast Cancer Forum” on Oct. 21 at SM City Cebu.

EJACC Coordinator Ronald De Los Reyes said their group promotes monthly breast self-examination for women 20 years old and above.

He said the self-examination should be done five to seven days after their menstrual period.

De Los Reyes said women 30 years old and above should have an annual clinical breast examination from doctors.

Women aged 50 years old and above are encouraged to have an annual mammogram examination, especially if they have a family history of breast cancer, he said.

The EJACC is a health component of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Incorporated (RAFI).

Based on the 2007 Metro Cebu Breast Cancer Prevalence Report provided by EJACC, about 1,270 out of 2,499 persons died after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

“Persons who are diagnosed with breast cancer in Cebu are roughly increasing and we don’t have the sufficient data yet for the latest report,” De Los Reyes said. Correspondent Rhea Ruth V. Rosell

Mandaue market dialogue

A FIVE-DAY dialogue between market vendors and the Mandaue City public market board that kicked off last Saturday and ends tomorrow included an orientation on values in dealing with customers.

Musoline Suliva, market administrator, said the dialogue helped to remind the vendors to complete their requirements and observe courtesy in selling their wares to customers.

Suliva said vendors selling meat, fish and eatery food should observe personal hygiene and wear hairnets, masks and aprons.

“Other vendors don’t take a bath or brush their teeth and just immediately go to their respective stalls. They need to change their attitudes in dealing with their customers,” he said.

The vendors were also reminded not to worry about getting customers since they will place  tricycle terminals in the new modern market.

Electric cars will be used to fetch customers to and from the market. Reporter Jucell Marie P. Cuyos