24/10/2025
๐ซฐ๐ป
๐
๐ซ๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐๐ง๐๐๐ซ-๐ฌ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ-๐ฒ๐๐๐ซ-๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐ก๐๐๐ฅ๐ญ๐ก ๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฌ
The City Health Office (CHO) has reminded the public of the free breast cancer screening available in health centers across Davao City.
CHO Women's Health Medical Coordinator Dr. Sharlene Tan, during the I-Speak Media Forum held at the City Mayor's Office Conference Room on Thursday, said with the free screenings, they have served a total of 33,796 from January to September this year.
"For the 33,796 screened, 364 ani ang suspicious nga mga lumps so mao ni siya ang gi-refer for further follow-up (Out of the 33,796 screened, 364 have suspicious lumps so they have been referred for follow-up)," she said.
Tan said that breast cancer, which can affect women as young as 25, should not be underestimated, as it can lead to death. The majority of the deaths are women 60 years and above.
The risk factors of breast-cancer are age, family history, reproductive and hormonal factors, and lifestyle diseases, such as obesity.
As age is a factor, Tan suggests that once women reach 40 years old, they should undergo an annual mammogram to check for signs of breast cancer.
Meanwhile, Tan also reported that some men have acquired and died of breast cancer. But men only comprise about 1 percent of breast cancer-related deaths.
The symptoms of breast cancer are the same for men and for women. These include presence of lumps in the breasts, change in shape, size, physical appearance of the breasts, discharges, and discoloration of the breast
She said that doctors and nurses can help assess these symptoms at the city health centers; however, patients can also conduct self-breast examinations by following the guidance of health professionals.
"Kung early ma-detect mas better ang chances na ma-cure siya, dili tanan bukol is cancer (If detected early, there will be better chances for cure. Not all lumps are cancerous though)," Tan said.
"Ang breast exam all throughout the year wala gina-specify unsa nga day, apil ang breast screening sa atong programs, sabay sa VIA and pre-natal (The breast exam is available throughout the year, we do not have specified day for the conduct of such, it is usually done along with other programs such as VIA [for cervical cancer] and pre-natal)," she said.
To expand more awareness by the grassroots on breast cancer related-services, in partnership with the Department of Health, the CHO also conduct Purok Kalusugan, an information drive per purok that gives awareness on all health services, not just breast cancer, but also other health programs being provided by the CHO. CIO
