Awareness about breast cancer still low in RP

When detected early, breast cancer is highly treatable and possibly curable. Surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and effective hormonal treatments have helped many women with early-stage breast cancer triumph over the disease.

Unfortunately, more than 10,000 Filipino women every year are diagnosed with breast cancer and almost half of them die of the disease.

“Awareness about breast cancer remains low in the Philippines. Many Filipino women seek medical consultation only when the disease is already in its advanced stages,” laments Alan Knox, president of leading multinational research-based pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca Philippines.

AstraZeneca has been involved in the research and development of cancer therapies for more than 30 years.

The company’s thrust, however, goes beyond cancer treatment. AstraZeneca is also a leading proponent in promoting awareness about the disease.

“For the past three years, AstraZeneca has partnered with cosmetics giant Avon in increasing breast cancer awareness among Filipinos. With increased public awareness, breast cancer can be detected earlier and treated more effectively. And we’ve seen improvements: the number of breast cancer patients presenting themselves to doctors much earlier has increased in recent years,” reveals Knox.

For the third consecutive year, AstraZeneca has been a major partner of Avon Philippines’ Kiss Goodbye to Breast Cancer (KGBC) campaign, which is highlighted by the annual Avon Walk Against Breast Cancer that aims not only to increase awareness about the disease but also to raise funds for breast cancer research.

“In our first year of working with Bob Briddon (Avon Philippines president and general manager), we were able to hold the first Avon Walk in Manila. The following year, we were able to organize it in Manila, Cebu and Davao. This year, we organized the Avon Walk in 16 cities across the archipelago,” says Knox.

This year’s Avon Walk was dubbed “I Walk with 30,000 for a Healthier Tomorrow” and involved more than 30,000 participants.

The three-kilometer, non-competitive walk was simultaneously held last Oct. 5 in the cities of Bacolod, Batangas, Cabanatuan, Cagayan de Oro, Cauayan, Cebu, Dagupan, Davao, Iloilo, Le­gazpi, Lucena, Malolos, Manila, San Fernando, Tacloban and Vigan.

AstraZeneca is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of breakthrough drugs against breast cancer, including ta­mo­xifen and the new-generation targeted therapy, aromatase inhibitor anastrozole.

Tamoxifen and anastrozole are prescription medications and should only be used upon the advice of a doctor.