Prostate Cancer Forum, Free Screening Set

In line with June as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, the public is encouraged to join a prostate cancer forum on June 10 and free screening on June 17, all Saturdays, at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC).

Drs. Rizalito Catipay, Edwin Lim, John Mata, and Ernesto Cabahug will speak during the forum, which will be held at the VSMMC auditorium from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. The speakers are urologists and active consultants of VSMMC.

The prostate cancer screening (digital rectal examination), on the other hand, will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the VSMMC Out-patient Department.

The two events are organized by VSMMC, Philippine Urological Association, Biomedes, and the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc.-Eduardo J. Aboitiz Cancer Center (RAFI-EJACC).

Data from the RAFI-EJACC Metro Cebu Population-based Cancer Registry shows that from 2008-2102, 332 prostate cancer incidents were recorded in Metro Cebu with a mortality rate of 240 deaths or 72.29 percent of all cases.

“Daghang mamatay sa prostate cancer despite the fact that ang screening is readily available and dili costly ang diagnostics. Among cancers, pinakasayon siya unta i-treat,” said Ronald Delos Reyes, RAFI-EJACC program coordinator.

He advised that men 40 years old and older should undergo annual prostate cancer screening, adding that early detection is key to surviving prostate cancer.

“Dili lisud pag-treat sa prostate cancer. Kasagarang kaso naa na sa mga nag-edad 55 hangtud 70 anyos. But they should start having themselves screened at 40 years old,” De los Reyes said.