With the Philippines having the highest incidence of breast cancer in Asia—with one in every 13 Filipino women at risk of getting it in their lifetime—the Philippine Breast Cancer Soceity has teamed up with SM Prime Holdings Inc. to hold the “Pink Ribbon Day” to promote breast cancer awareness and encourage Filipinas to have regular breast examination for early detection and intervention.
The event was attended by cancer survivors, women members of the Philippine National Police and members of cause-oriented groups.
Pink Ribbon Day aims to raise awareness on the struggles of breast cancer patients.
While the cause of breast cancer has yet to be identified, medical experts have attributed it to several factors, including the decision of many Filipino women not to have children or to delay marriage and having kids until they are in their 30s.
Oncologist Dr. Christina Galvez, president of the PBCS, said the decision to delay having children until women are in their 30s increases the risk of having breast cancer due to the longer duration of exposure to estrogen.
“This hormone feeds cancer cells so when you have constant high levels of estrogen in your body, it raises your risk of breast cancer. The production of this hormone only stops when you get pregnant and give birth so when you have kids, it shortens the period of your exposure to this type of hormone,” Galvez explained.
Elena Bautista-Horn, SM Prime vice president for corporate affairs who is herself a breast cancer survivor, said the Pink Ribbon Day is their way of telling women that breast cancer is not a death sentence but a challenge that can be won with early detection.
“Breast cancer is not a death sentence. There are lots of technology now available. What is important is early detection and of course with the help of your family and friends. My twins inspired me to keep going and to fight. So to all women out there, don’t be afraid to have yourself checked. You have to do it for you and your loved ones,” Bautista-Horn said.
Other risk factors are intake of oral contraceptive pills, high fat diet, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, alcohol consumption and family history of cancer.
Galvez said regular breast examination is the single best way to detect the disease at the earliest possible stage.
“An ounce of prevention is better than cure as they say and we want to tell women that we will be able to survive breast cancer if we catch it early,” she said.