Knowing and Surviving cancer-- (Second of two parts)

CEBU, Philippines - The third week of January is Cancer Consciousness Week. In support of the celebration, this article discusses the most common cancer that afflicts Cebuanos. 

The first of this two-part series dealt with breast cancer and cervical cancer, and included preventive measures that can be taken to minimize risk. 

Ronald delos Reyes, program coordinator of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc.-Eduardo J. Aboitiz Cancer Center (RAFI-EJACC), however, emphasized that early detection still remains the primary defense available against any type of cancer.

We continue in this final piece with a discussion on liver, prostate, and lung cancers.

Liver cancer. Among other cancers besetting Cebuanos, liver cancer ranks first in males and fourth in females, with the number of incidence beginning to rise at the age of 30 and 40, respectively.

In EJACC's 1998-2007 data, there were 2,623 deaths from the 3,174 liver cancer cases, or a mortality rate of 82.64 percent. Lapu-Lapu City has the highest number of liver cancer cases in Metro Cebu.

The same report stated that 80 percent of cases in Metro Cebu are caused by Hepatitis B while the remaining 20 percent is due to alcoholism.

Liver cancer is common in the Philippines because many Filipinos suffer from cirrhosis of the liver, a disease in which liver cells become damaged and are replaced by scar tissue. Most primary liver cancers begin in the liver cells or the hepatocytes. This type of cancer is called hepatocellular carcinoma or malignant hepatoma.

Liver cancer has a poor prognosis because signs and symptoms often do not appear until it is usually diagnosed at a very late stage. Common symptoms include pain in the upper abdomen on the right side; a lump or a feeling heaviness in the upper abdomen; swollen abdomen; loss of appetite and feelings of fullness; weight loss; and yellowing of skin and eyes or jaundice.

Delos Reyes encouraged a complete vaccination against Hepatitis B as a primary preventive measure. Other ways to reduce the risk of developing liver cancer include proper storage of food; maintaining a healthy lifestyle; and avoidance of excessive alcohol intake and sex with multiple partners.

Prostate Cancer. The risk of developing prostate cancer increases with age and if a man has a strong family history on cancer.

Prostate is found in the portion near a man's pelvis. It is located under the urinary bladder and in front of the rectum and surrounds part of the urethra.

The three types of prostate ailment are benign prostate hyperplasia, prostitis, and prostate cancer.

Incidence and mortality rate of prostate cancer among men is high, especially at 50 years old and above. In 2003-2007, EJACC recorded 353 cases of prostate cancer, of which 217 died. It is the fourth most common cancer among males in Metro Cebu.

The signs and symptoms of prostate cancer is mainly problem in urination. It may cause problems during sexual intercourse, or erectile dysfunction. Most of the time, however, prostate cancer may not show these symptoms even when cancer cells has spread throughout the body already.

To detect prostate cancer, men should undergo the following tests: digital rectal examination (DRE), prostate specific antigen (PSA), ultrasound, and biopsy.

Common treatments to prostate cancer include surgery, cryosurgery, hormone therapy, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy.

Lung cancer.  This is a disease characterized by uncontrolled abnormal growth of lung tissues.  To diagnose lung cancer, one must look at the smoking history and exposure to environmental and occupational substances, among others, of the person.

Smoking is the main cause of lung cancer. Exposures to second-hand smoke and environmental exposures, such as on radon and workplace toxins, also increase one's risk.

The earlier in life a person starts smoking, the more often a person smokes, and the more years a person smokes, the greater the risk of lung cancer. If a person has stopped smoking, the risk becomes lower as the years pass.

The World Health Organization estimates that a fourth of all types of cancers can be attributed to smoking. Tobacco is responsible for 71 percent of lung cancer deaths in the world. In the Philippines, lung cancer is the leading form of cancer and this is attributed to high smoking rates, particularly among men.

According delos Reyes, "the best way to prevent lung cancer is to live a healthy lifestyle and quit or never indulge in smoking."

EJACC's record shows that in 2003 to 2007, 830 men and 457 women were diagnosed with lung cancer, which killed 620 of the men and 336 of the women.

While cancer cannot be wholly avoided, knowing about the risk factors and having one's self checked regularly would go a long way in surviving cancer.

The FREEMAN and the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. is running bi-monthly features on various cancer topics to emphasize the importance of early cancer detection and to increase public support for cancer initiatives. For more information about EJACC and its services, please contact Ronald delos Reyes and/or Gina Mariquit at 256-3287. For comments and suggestions, email [email protected]. (FREEMAN)