Liver & Lung Cancer Are The Leading Cancers In Metro Cebu

Cancer remains the third causes of death within the Philippines. The two top causes of  death are liver cancer & lung cancer.

“Liver cancer and lung cancer are the leading cancers in Metro Cebu. Lung cancer ranks  first not just in terms of incidence but also in mortality cases,” states Ronald Delos  Reyes; Program coordinator of the Eduardo J. Aboitiz Cancer Center (EJACC) under the Ramon  Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI).

Last February 23, 2013 in the radio program “Pagtuki” official radio program of RAFI broadcast  in DyLA every Saturday, Delos Reyes claims that cancer cases in women are actually rising in Metro Cebu. But, lots of men acquired lung cancer and die.

“For the past 15 years, the average lung cancer cases among women were less than a  hundred. Now, it has now an average of 200 cases.” says Delos Reyes.

The EJACC Metro Cebu Population-based Cancer Registry reveal that since 1998 to 2012, only  826 males and 360 females diagnosed with lung cancer, and 646 men and 270 women die with this  disease.

From 2003 to 2007, there are 830 men and 457 women diagnosed with lung cancer, and 626 of  men and 328 women casualties.

Bernadine Hayag, a health promotion & education officer from the Department of Health  (DOH) 7 claims that one of the many causes why a lot of women have lung cancers is due to  the “second smoke”.

“There are 70,000 chemicals found in one cigarette, 7,000 of these chemicals are  carcinogens which cause cancer,” she states that every hour there are 10 Filipino die because of  smoking.

Additionally, Hayag stated that these smokers could possibly get another ailment like  heart problems, stroke & chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) other than lung  cancer.

Reported by the EJACC Metro Cebu Populkation-based Cancer Registry has shown that since 1998  to 2002, 1,561 cases of liver cancer posted and 1,350 die from that disease. In 2003 to  2007, they posted 1,267 died from 1,612 cases of liver cancer.

“We encourage parents to give their children a complete vaccination for hepatitis B as a  primary preventive measure. Other ways to reduce the risk of developing liver cancer  include healthy lifestyle, avoidance of excessive alcohol intake, sex with multiple  partners, and smoking,” Hayag explained. About Eighty percent of liver cancer cases are caused by Hepatitis infections.

Last December 2012, the President B. Aquino signed the Republic Act no. 10351 or Sin Tax Reform  2012, to raise the required taxes for a cigarette and alcoholic drink in the nation.

“As of now, we could not feel the effects of the implementation of the newly passed law.  Five years from now, more Filipinos will benefit from it. We are expecting that the number  of smokers and drinkers will, however, decrease,” she says.

Delos Reyes states that if this type of disease diagnosed earlier, it will likely be taken care of to avoid it getting worse.

According to Hayag, the DOH strengthen their advocacy campaign and information  dissemination to people of the more serious outcomes of cigarette smoking and over drinking of alcoholic beverages.