Council okays free prostate cancer screening at CCMC

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City male residents in their 40s and above could soon take advantage of free annual prostate cancer screening and consultations at the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC), following a resolution passed by the City Council in its latest regular session.

The program will specifically cover male Cebuano residents aged 40 years old and above, who are considered at higher risk for the disease.

By institutionalizing free screenings, the council aims to remove financial barriers and encourage men to take proactive steps in safeguarding their health.

The initiative was authored by Councilor Pastor M. Alcover Jr., who is himself a survivor of prostate cancer.

His own surgery and recovery underscored the life-saving importance of early detection and accessible healthcare.

Alcover noted that many men are willing to undergo screening but are held back by financial constraints and the lack of free diagnostic services.

Global cancer data (GLOBOCAN) show prostate cancer as one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among men, with 1.4 million new cases and 375,000 deaths worldwide in 2020.

In the Philippines, it consistently ranks among the top five cancers affecting males, with 7,000–8,000 new cases annually.

Medical experts emphasize that prostate cancer often develops silently, making regular screening through Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) tests and digital rectal exams crucial for early detection.

Studies show survival rates can reach nearly 99 percent when caught early, compared to drastically lower outcomes in late-stage cases.

The approved measure requests Mayor Nestor Archival to direct CCMC to implement the program and ensure that its schedule and guidelines are widely disseminated by the Public Information Office to maximize public awareness and participation. IHM CEBU NEWS