Breast cancer screening and early detection can increase curability and save lives

According to the World Health Organization, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide, claiming the lives of hundreds of thousands of women each year and affecting countries at all levels of modernization.

But there is good news. The world-wide agency have seen a gradual reduction in female breast cancer incidence rates among women aged 50 and older. Death rates from breast cancer have been declining since about 1990, in part to better due to screening and early detection, increased awareness, and continually improving treatment options, according to WHO.

What Is Breast Cancer?

Breast cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the breast. The damaged cells can invade surrounding tissue, but with early detection and treatment, most people continue a normal life.

“Every time we talk about breast cancer, we always see negative statistics. The thing is, it’s curable. So why aren’t we projecting numbers of lives that were saved from this disease instead?” expressed Ann Christine Palisoc, President of Philippine Wacoal Corporation.

Early detection is the most effective solution to breast cancer management. Studies support that survival rates increase the earlier the cancer is detected with treatment during stages 0-3 providing the best chance of survival. This is supported by statistics from Cancer Research UK which reports that 90% of women who were diagnosed earlier have a better chance of recovering from the disease than those diagnosed during the advanced stages.

Monthly breast self-examination is suggested for women at the age of first menstruation. Those in the same age range to their 30s are also recommended to have a clinical breast examination (CBE). For women aged 40 and above, having a CBE and mammogram yearly is advised.

“There is no shortage of options that can be used to detect breast cancer early. The problem is that people do not always understand the significance of early detection,” says Palisoc.

She continues, “This is why building breast cancer awareness is still very important. We need to inform the public. If they are properly educated, then they will build the initiative on their own.”

Philippine Wacoal rises to this call with its 10-year-long Keep Abreast Campaign, an advocacy that centers in informing the public about the importance of early diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of breast cancer. For this campaign, Philippine Wacoal has partnered with non-profit organization Gift2Life, Inc. to conduct free seminars to build better public awareness on the subject.

In addition, Philippine Wacoal Corporation also conducts clinical breast examinations after the seminars. This year-round advocacy also sells pink ribbon souvenir items to its customers to raise funds which will be donated to Gift2Life, Inc. and the Philippine Foundation for Breast Care, Inc.

The company is a subsidiary of Wacoal Corporation, Japan’s leading brand of female undergarments. Other than its quality products—which the company boasts to be supported by intensive research, the corporation has also made a name in the international and local market for building and valuing consumer trust.

Palisoc shares, “As a brand trusted by many, we have taken it as our responsibility to give back to society. This is our way of reaching a helping hand, because everyone deserves to be protected from this disease.”

Keep Abreast Campaign

Wacoal’s Keep Abreast Campaign in October every year is graced by resource speaker, Dr. Cristina Santos, who share the realities of the
disease.

A breast cancer surgeon from Gift2Life Inc., Dr. Santos explained how breast cancer can be developed by everyone regardless of sex and age. She made clear that the best defense against breast cancer is early detection and prevention and since women are more likely to be affected by this type of cancer, she encouraged everyone to practice self-breast examination to increase the chances of survival.

After each seminar, a free breast examination is provided to the participants by medical professionals of Gift2Life Inc. For this year, the Keep Abreast Seminar was held on October 3 and 17, at Ateneo Rockwell.