Davao City, in partnership with the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC), Metro Davao Medical and Research Center Inc. and stakeholders will conduct the SPMC Lumps and Bumps Caravan: TINGin-TINGin, TANGTANG Bukol Caravan on February 28 at the Almendras Gym.
“We are hoping to serve at least 500 patients, 360 in all the services of SPMC. This project in cooperation with the City Government of Davao, Department of Health, SPMC, and the Metro Davao Medical specialty at yung lahat ng mga sub-specialty ng Metropolitan Davao Medical Society, Incorporated (MDMSI). We will be accepting pre-registration online,” said Dr. Mae Dolendo the SPMC Chair of the Integrated Cancer Care Committee in an interview over Madayaw sa Dabaw radio program Monday.
The free cancer screening will involve screening for cervical cancer and breast. There will also be onsite ultrasound, and if the patient needs a biopsy they will also provide it.
“This will be a clinic wherein we will not be only disseminating information about cancer but we will also be doing diagnostic procedures for patients who come there with complaints already about mga bukol bukol (lumps). Partner namin ang mga surgeons, gynecologist. They will actually be doing minor surgeries, or biopsies on these complaints that can already jumpstart yung kanilang pagpapatingin at pag diskubre kung meron ba silang sakit na cancer or wala at ma-refer natin sa proper doctors sa SPMC (the check-up and discovery if they have cancer or not and we will refer them to proper doctors of SPMC),” said Dr. Chita Matunog Chair, SPMC Adult Oncology Section in an interview over DCDR Monday.
Matunog said that the caravan is part of the activities for Cancer Awareness month, which is significant because cancer is already one of the leading causes of illness or death in the Philippines and worldwide.
“It is a global problem which is also a national problem. It is important we have a month to commemorate this so we can focus on our activities on cancer prevention, screening and protection for the top leading cancers,” she said.
Matunog said at the Cancer Institute SPMC, after the lifting of the pandemic, they cater to 500-800 outpatients per month at the adult cancer institute alone. She said 1/3 of cancers are preventable if patients can avoid the risk factors.
The common cancer risk factor is smoking as it cannot only cause lung cancer but any cancer from head to neck. Another risk factor is alcohol which is associated with liver and breast cancer. An unhealthy diet that leads to cancer of the colon, esophagus, and stomach. Obesity and excessive exposure to the sun are also considered cancer risk factors.
Dolendo said that out of the cancers, only Human papillomavirus (HPV) a causative virus for cervical cancer and Hepatitis A and B, an infection that may lead to liver cancer, have vaccines.
For child cancer, there is a need to detect it early because some children have cancer starting at the time of birth. Some cancers may also not reach the risky stage if medical intervention takes place at the early stage.
Dolendo said that the point of national cancer awareness is not only to inform the public about cancer but also ways the government can assist.
“The earlier they can be screened the lesser resources they will need and there is a higher chance of survival,” Dolendo said that the requirements for free medical assistance, cancer Assistance Fund, and Philhealth packages will also be explained through the caravan and information dissemination drive.
Apart from the Lumps and Bumps Caravan, more advocacy tours are scheduled: on February 22, 2023 at the Kapihan Sa Davao with PIA and on February 27 at DCDR. A research poster presentation/ exhibit entitled “Fighting the Big C, with Evidence-Based Decision Making (Cancer Research in SPMC)” will also be conducted. On February 15, International Childhood Cancer Awareness Day Celebration will be conducted and on February 27, a Virtual Oral Case Contest will be held.
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