- CHERYL G. CRUZ
The incidence of breast cancer in Bacolod City is the highest in the Philippines and among the highest in Asia, as per a study conducted by Project BrIDGE of Roche International, Councilor Em Legaspi Ang said.
Ang proposed a resolution urging the City Health Office, through the Office of the City Mayor, to implement City Ordinance 586, or the Anti-Breast Cancer Campaign Ordinance, in observance of the Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October.
She said the incidence of breast cancer in the Philippines is 32 per 100,000 population, 43 per 100,000 in Asia, while in Bacolod City, it is 47 per 100,000.
“The Philippines is considered the country with the highest prevalence in Southeast Asia and ninth in the world, with 27,163 cases and 9,926 deaths in 2021,” Ang said in the resolution approved by the Sangguniang Panlungsod during its session Oct. 12.
Ang said only one in five of newly-diagnosed breast cancer patients avail of routine laboratory predictive markers that guide treatment decisions. “The SP deems it important to continue and maintain the awareness campaign program of the City Government to minimize the incidence of breast cancer among Bacolodnons, and increase the chance of treatment through the early detection of the disease.”
She said that Ordinance 586, passed on April 3, 2012, aims to raise the awareness of Bacolodnons to said disease by conducting information and education campaign (IEC) programs regarding the prevention and early detection of breast cancer.
The ordinance has funding of P100,000, which the City Health Office may use in their IEC programs and other activities, Ang stressed, adding that the World Health Organization has declared October as the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month to specifically increase awareness about the early detection of the disease and its prevention./CGC
