Top 10 Causes of Cancer Deaths in the Philippines (2010) A cancer develops when cells undergo an abnormal change and

begin to grow and spread within the body. These abnormal cells then grow into tumors that can be benign or malignant. Cancers can occur at any age. Seventy-five percent of cancer patients in the Philippines are 50 years old and above while 3.2% belong to the pediatric age bracket (0 to 14 years). In February 2010, the World Health Organization predicted that the number of cancer deaths in worldwide will increase from 7.6 million to 17 million deaths in 2030. Thirty percent of cancers can be prevented by avoiding smoking, having regular exercise, and eating the right diet. Unfortunately, cancer still ranked third in the list of leading causes of death in the country in 2010. Meanwhile, listed below are the top causes of cancer deaths in the country for 2010: Breast cancer In 2010, breast cancer became the most common cancer in the country with 16 percent of a total of 50,000 cases resulting in death. The disease has also become the leading cause of cancer for Filipino women. Doctors advise women about constant self-breast examination to detect abnormal growth in the breasts so that the cancer can be treated during its early stages. Meanwhile, the Philippine Cancer Society has pledged to provide more free mammography services, fine needle aspiration biopsy, and education campaigns to help more Filipinas in combating the disease. Lung cancer Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer for Filipino men. It was the leading cause of cancer deaths in the country before it was replaced by breast cancer. Meanwhile, the Philippine Cancer Society expressed concern over the rise in lung cancer incidences among Filipino women. Experts advise the public to refrain from cigarette smoking as nine out of ten smokers die from lung cancer. Non-smokers also become prone of lung cancer through second-hand and third-hand smoke. Liver cancer Liver cancer is the eight most common cancer in the world. However, it appears that the disease is more common in the Philippines compared to the lesser number of incidences in the United States. Doctors attribute this to the fact that chronic hepatitis B affects 10 to 12 percent of all Filipinos. Chronic hepatitis B causes cirrhosis of the liver which is a major risk factor of liver cancer. Cervical cancer It is estimated that 12 Filipinas die of cervical cancer each day with 6,000 cases being diagnosed each year. This type of cancer is common among women from age 30 to 55. Twenty-two in 100,000 women will get cervical cancer and only 44% of this number will survive the disease. Thus, doctors are urging women to be screened three years after their first sexual contact. They also strongly recommend administering the cervical cancer vaccine to Filipinas age ten years and above. Colon cancer Colon cancer occurs when abnormal cells develop in the large intestine. It is best detected early through fecal occult blood test and colonoscopy. It is then treated through surgery which entails removing the affected part of the colon. Among Filipino personalities who died of the disease are Corazon C. Aquino, Chat Silayan, Rio Diaz, Helen Vela, and veteran actor Charlie Davao in August 2010. Thyroid cancer Thyroid cancer is more common in women than in men. In fact, it is the most common cancer for women at age 15 to 24. Risk factors include family history, exposure to radiation, and not having enough iodine in the diet. It is highly curable by surgery alone. Rectal cancer Rectal cancer is caused by cancer cells that grow in the last 15 centimeters of the colon. These cancer cells become deadly once they travel through the bloodstream and into the other internal organs such as the liver. A diet rich in red meat and processed meats, lack of exercise, obesity, smoking, type-2 diabetes, and alcoholism is found to cause the disease. Ovarian cancer The Department of Health website cites ovarian cancer as the 5th most common cancer among women. It is considered a silent killer as it is usually detected when the cancer cells have already spread to other organs such as the lungs and the liver. In March 2010, the mother of actress Francine Prieto succumbed to Stage 3 ovarian

cancer. Prostate cancer After lung cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer for men. According to Enrique Ona of the National Kidney and Transplant Institute, prostate cancer develops in 19.3 out of every 100,000 Filipinos. The Department of Health has already recognized this alarming number and declared June of every year as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. Non-Hodgkins lymphoma Lymphoma is a type of cancer that affects the lymphoid tissues such as the lymph nodes or the spleen. It is considered as the most common type of blood cancer in the United States. Meanwhile, non-Hodgkins lymphoma is a type of lymphoma that commonly affects adults. Patients with non-Hodgkins lymphoma have a lower survival rate (63%) compared to patients with Hodgkins lymphoma (90%). Risk factors Growing older Tobacco Sunlight Ionizing radiation Certain chemicals and other substances Some viruses and bacteria Certain hormones Family history of cancer Alcohol Poor diet, lack of physical activity, or being overweight