Taguig Beefs Up Drive vs Breast Cancer

The Taguig City Government has further enhanced its capability to fight breast cancer among women, particularly among the poor, with the recent opening of the Breast Cancer Screening Center at the Taguig-Pateros District Hospital (TPDH).

Mayor Lani Cayetano said the facility, which is equipped with state-of-the-art mammogram and x-ray machine, was part of the local government’s breast cancer awareness program.“Breast cancer has been one of the leading causes of death among women for the longest time, so we provided easier access for detection and subsequent treatment for women afflicted with the disease, especially those who cannot afford private hospitals,” said Mayor Lani, who has been at the forefront of the anti-breast cancer drive in Taguig.

Meanwhile, Dr. Isaias Ramos, officer-in-charge of the City Health Office, announced that breast screening is free for all indigent female residents of the city.

Prior to this, the city government launched the “Ating Dibdibin” project in partnership with the  ICanServe Foundation, a group composed of breast cancer survivors and an advocate of early breast cancer detection through high impact information campaign and  community-based screenings.

Through this partnership, free breast consultations were conducted in Taguig’s 28 barangays.

“I commend Mayor Lani Cayetano for being the first among LGU officials to provide mammogram service to her constituents. This is step one in helping Taguig prevent the spread of breast cancer cases by early detection of this illness in women,” Lyn Catuncan, project manager of ICanServe Foundation.

“With this new facility in TPDH, women of Taguig do not have to go to Philippine General Hospital (PGH) for mammography,” she added.

In the breast screening conducted in 28 barangays in Taguig, around 1,700 women were suspected to have lumps in their breasts.

The ICanServe Foundation earlier said the Philippines has the highest incidence of breast cancer among women.

The Philippine Society of Medical Oncology has also reported that breast cancer has surpassed lung cancer as the leading type of cancer in the country.

As part of her advocacy for women’s health, Mayor Lani likewise continues to push for women’s protection against cervical cancer by providing easy access to human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines.