ZAMBOANGA CITY (PIA) – The Department of Health (DOH)-9 is stepping up efforts to combat the stigma surrounding breast cancer by offering free and low-cost medical services to patients across the Zamboanga Peninsula (ZamPen) region.
During the recent PIA Kapihan na Zamboanga, in celebration of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, DOH-9 Medical Officer Dr. Rolando Lilienthal Bucoy highlighted the role of the Cancer Center at the government-run Zamboanga City Medical Center (ZCMC), a designated DOH cancer center in Zamboanga Peninsula. This facility is dedicated to providing essential patient support, enabling early cancer detection and prevention.
“Zamboanga Peninsula now has more physicians, aiding the increase of breast cancer examinations. All medicines in our cancer center for our patients are now free. We have the funds to help clients,” Dr. Bucoy emphasized, aligning with DOH’s mission to make medical treatments accessible at designated cancer centers nationwide.
According to a 2023 report by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), neoplasms, more often known as cancer, are the second leading cause of death in the Philippines, accounting for 67,386 or 10.7% of total deaths.
The stigma of breast cancer often hinders women from conducting medical checkups and self-examinations, including limited access to breast cancer screening services, financial access, and fear, among others. DOH is addressing such through various assistance programs, capacitating ZamPen’s health workers and citizens through materials to aid them in their screening.
Members of DOH-supported assistance programs, such as the Medical Assistance for Indigenous Peoples and Malasakit Program, are prioritized in the free medical services of ZCMC’s cancer center. Other approaches, such as accommodating patients during cancer treatments, are also considered in collaboration with partner agencies such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) alongside other services.
In addition, DOH continually encourages ZamPen LGU health workers to be capacitated so they can be deployed in their respective health centers and promote breast cancer screening to citizens in their area, thereby breaking the stigma of untappable services for breast cancer.
Dr. Bucoy encourages women to conduct self-examinations for breast cancer if needed and have it further checked once they feel something or experience changes in their breasts.
“I encourage all women, especially those with a family history of breast cancer, not to be afraid to do cancer screening. Early diagnosis is best for you because cancer is preventable and can be cured at an early stage and detected,” Dr. Bucoy said. (EDT/MLE/JFT/PIA9-Zamboanga City)
