Cebu vice guv assures support for cancer victims

By Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc.
October 12, 2014

CEBU CITY – Cebu Vice Governor Agnes Magpale last Saturday assured those suffering from breast cancer they have her full support and that they must have the strength to fight the disease.

Speaking before a crowd of over 3,000 participants of the Moonwalk: A Walk for Breast Cancer Awareness during an opening program at the Fuente Osmeña Circle, Magpale said the support for those stricken with breast cancer would always be there.

She also thanked the various support groups not only for patients and survivors but also to their families who have tirelessly provided assistance.

The Moonwalk last Saturday started from Fuente Osmeña Rotunda to Plaza Independencia in Cebu City. Started in 2004, it is a unique collective advocacy campaign focused on early screening and detection of breast cancer through monthly breast self-examination and mammography.

Ronald de los Reyes, Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc.-Eduardo J. Aboitiz Cancer Center (RAFI-EJACC) program coordinator, emphasized early detection as the best way to survive cancer. This can be done by having regular screening.

“Breast cancer is one of those cancers with screening and survival therefore is very high if it is detected at an early stage,” he said.

With records of 657 deaths out of the 1,349 cases in 2003-2007, the Cebu population-based Cancer Registry of RAFI-EJACC identifies breast cancer as the leading cause of death among Cebuano women.

De los Reyes said that what is sad is that many of those cases where discovered only when breast cancer was already in its advance stage and survival was already slim.

For this reason, the fight against the disease, which affects the lives of Cebuano women and their families, continues through this annual advocacy walk, which is held every full moon of October in observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

A particular information that should be made common knowledge, for example, is that breast cancer can also afflict men.

De los Reyes emphasized that women 20 years old and above should already know how to do breast self-examination and do so at least once a month and must know the symptoms of breast cancer, which include unusual discharge from and lump in the breast.

Aside RAFI employees and those from partner organizations, various government agencies like the Department of Health and those from the different barangays and schools of Cebu also joined in the 1.5-kilometer walk.

Convergys, the Rotary, and Radisson Blu Hotel likewise, among others, also joined the Moonwalk, which featured performances from local talents during the program at the Plaza Independencia immediately after the walk.

The event was organized by RAFI-EJACC in partnership with the Cebu City Government and Task Force Cancer of Cebu City, Department of Health 7, Destiny Medical Fund Inc., and Goldilocks. It is also supported by the Cebu Cancer Fight Inc., I CAN SERVE Foundation, Alcordo Advertising, Nature Spring, and CAN with GOD.