September is Liver Cancer Awareness Month in the Philippines
If September is Ovarian Cancer Month in the US, here in the Philippines, September has been declared Liver Cancer month by the Philippine government. This event aims to raise public consciousness about this illness that has an unusually high incidence in our country. Liver cancer is only the eighth most common form of cancer worldwide, but in the Philippines, Department of Health (DOH) and Philippine Cancer Society statistics show that it is the third most common form of cancer among men and sixth among women.
Liver cancer is one of the deadliest of all cancers. Most patients die within a year of diagnosis. Without treatment, the five-year survival rate from the disease is less than 5 percent, but if the cancer is diagnosed early and treated aggressively, the five-year survival rate is about 35 percent.
The most important risk factor associated with liver cancer is cirrhosis, a condition that precedes 80 percent of all liver cancers. The most common cause of cirrhosis is chronic hepatitis B, a condition that afflicts about 10-12 percent of all Filipinos. Chronic Hepatitis B is the main reason liver cancer incidence in the Philippines is high. Other possible causes of cirrhosis are hepatitis C infection and alcoholism.
Aside from cirrhosis, the other important risk factors associated with liver cancer are certain toxic substances and chemicals, such as aflatoxin and vinyl chloride which is used in certain industries. Aflatoxin is produced by certain species of fungi that grow in poorly harvested, stored, processed, and handled foodstuff like peanuts, corn, rice, dried fruit, tree nuts, spices, crude vegetable oils, cocoa beans, and copra, as well as milk and milk products from cattle that have consumed contaminated feed. In the Philippines, the high temperature and relative humidity that prevails throughout the year favors the growth of aflatoxin.
Usually, liver cancer presents no symptoms until the tumor has already spread and is in advanced stage. The most common initial symptoms of the disease are abdominal pain and enlargement, feeling of fullness, loss of appetite, weight loss, weakness, and occasionally, vomiting and yellowing (jaundice). There is a vast array of treatment methods for liver. The stage of disease and the availability of facilities and expertise dictate, to a large extent, which treatment method is employed.
The outlook for liver cancer remains poor especially if it is detected late, but the disease is preventable because the risk factors associated with it have already been identified. Vaccination for hepatitis B, avoidance of alcohol, and proper storage of foodstuff are measures that can be taken to significantly reduce the risk of developing the cancer.
In addition to this, to sustain the health promotion aspect on the prevention and control of cancer, the following calendar of events are celebrated monthly in the Philippines.
January - National Cancer Consciousness Week (Every 3rd week of January)
February - Diet and Exercise Awareness Month
March - Colon and Rectal Awareness Month
April - Cancer in Children Awareness Month
May - Cervical Cancer Awareness Month
June- Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
July - Lung Cancer Awareness Month
August - Lung Cancer Awareness Month
September - Liver Cancer Awareness Month
October - Breast Cancer Awareness Month
November - Pain Management Awareness Month
December - Thanksgiving Month
Early detection through screening of high risks individual is the primary concern to halt the progress of the disease. Synchronization of efforts towards the prevention and control is done by both public and private institution and organizations
If you want to get updates on Nursing Researches, Nursing Board Exam Results, Nursing Articles, Nursing Education, Health and Health tips, and other informative articles in this site, please subscribe to my Free RSS feed. Thank you very much!
Tags: breast cancer awareness, Calendar of activities (cancer-related) in the Philippi, cancer, colon cancer, health, Liver cancer awareness month, ovarian cancer month
Daming health awareness campaign ang Pinas noh kaso ibang tao prang wala lang hehehe.kung ano bawal yun ang gusto ng karamihan. Dyusme cancer super scary. Lord keep us all away from the terrible illness.
Joy’s last blog post..A Boost for Me
[Reply]
jessie reply on September 21st, 2008:
Joy,
Oo nga eh. Sa panahon ngayon, bawal ang magkasakit lalo na pag cancer. Sobrang mahal ng gastusin. Sa presyo pa lang ng gamot ikamamatay na ng pasyente.
jessie’s last blog post..Total Cell Phone Ban While Driving Bill in the Philippines
[Reply]
A healthy lifestyle and early detection are the best preventive measures for this frail bodies of ours.
When I was a kid, my grannies used to call cancer as the illness of the rich. Now, it seems that everybody will die of one someday.
ceblogger’s last blog post..Salaries of Filipino Nurses In The USA
[Reply]
ceblogger,
That is correct. Early detection can spell all the difference. Also, you’re right. Cancer is not just for the affluent. It doesn’t really know no ranks or social status.
jessie’s last blog post..America Lyrics | Song Lyrics
[Reply]
Dear All,
Greetings!
September is Liver Cancer Awareness Month. In line with this, the Philippine Society of General Surgeons Metro Manila Chapter has organized a fun run on October 5, 2008 to be held in Veterans Memorial Hospital at 6 am, This campaign serves to increase public awareness in the fight against Hepatitis B and Liver Cancer and ultimately to raise funds for the following objectives: 1) raise & provide funding and assistance to indigent patients necessitating Hepatitis B vaccines, research oriented cancer & liver disease -focused institutions 2) raise & provide funding for appropriate treatments for liver cancer 3) educate the public about screening, risk factors, & preventive measures that can be taken to combat primary liver cancer and liver disease.
Here are some important facts why you should join & support this campaign:
1) Hepatitis B takes a life every 30 seconds
2) 1 in 10 Asians is infected with chronic hepatitis B
3) Hepatitis B causes 80% of liver cancer among Asians
4) Liver cancer ranks #2 among the top 10 cancer related deaths in Filipino males
5) Hepatitis B is a vaccine-preventable disease
6)Available treatments for hepatitis B can slow or prevent liver damage With the help of a strong network of hundreds of governmental and nongovernmental agencies, private corporations and foundations, and community partners, we, together can forge new ground in outreach, education, advocacy, and research for our share in the global eradication of hepatitis B and liver cancer. Gifts & Donations to support and accelerate our efforts in community education, research to find new treatments, methods of prevention, and perhaps someday, a cure for liver disease and cancer will greatly enhance our goals: Outreach and Education, Prevention and Treatment. YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
On behalf of PSGS MMC, I’m inviting you & your friends. Come and join us on October 5! 6 am at the Veterans Memorial Hospital.
Sincerely yours,
Catherine Teh, MD, FPCS, FPSGS, FPALES
[Reply]
Catherine,
Thanks for the valuable info. I hope your public service announcement in line with liver cancer awareness month in the Philippines will reach the target clients. Goodluck! >> The author
jessie’s last blog post..Total Cell Phone Ban While Driving Bill in the Philippines
[Reply]