Municipal Health Office of

Palompon celebrates
 Breast Cancer statistics
• The Philippines has the No. 1 incidence of breast
cancer among Asian countries
• Philippine Society of Medical Oncology
 Breast Cancer statistics
• The Philippines has the No. 1 incidence of breast
cancer among Asian countries
• 3 out of 100 (Filipino) women will get breast
cancer before age 75
• 1 out of 100 will die before reaching 75
• Philippine Society of Medical Oncology
 Breast Cancer statistics
• The Philippines has the No. 1 incidence of breast
cancer among Asian countries
• 3 out of 100 (Filipino) women will get breast
cancer before age 75
• 1 out of 100 will die before reaching 75
• Philippine Society of Medical Oncology

• Most frequently diagnosed cancer among

women in 140 of 184 countries worldwide
• Philippine Cancer Society, IARC-Globocan, NFCR.ORG
Unknown
CAUSE
 being overweight
having no children at the age of
Risk Factors
30
having a family history of breast
cancer
drinking excessive alcohol
having early menstruation and
later menopause.

Dr. Rachel Rosario, Philippine Cancer Society Inc. (PCSI)

Spread
BEST CHANCE AGAINST CANCER

Early Early Early

Detection Diagnosis Treatment
Early Detection
strategies:

• Breast Cancer
Awareness!
• Breast Self
ExaminatioN (BSE)!
• Breast Specialist
Examination!
Promoting Breast Wellness
Among Filipino Women
Concept of Breast
Wellness
A state wherein there is NO breast issue
(in the domain of symptoms, diseases,
and fear and anxiety even in the absence
of disease)
that affects the physical, mental and
social well-being and / or the
socioeconomic productivity of a person.
NOT merely absence of breast
abnormality or disease!
 • Breast cancerophobia
• Inadequate knowledge
Factors Affecting • Myths (unfounded popular beliefs)

Breast Wellness • Wrongful interpretation and understanding:

• read, heard, saw
• reports from diagnostic tests
Myths on Breast Conditions and
Diseases
• A trauma or a bump on the breasts can lead to breast
cancer.
• A person with a family history of breast cancer will
surely develop a breast cancer in the future.
• Breast cancer is a death sentence.
• ALL diagnostic tests, such as mammography and
ultrasound, and including the physical examination of
the breast specialist, are 100% accurate 100% of the
time.
Recommended Strategies on
Promoting Breast Wellness and
Against Breast Cancer

Possessing adequate knowledge of

breast conditions and diseases
Performing regular breast self-
examination
Seeking regular check-ups and advices
from a breast specialist
 Importance of Breast
Self-examination
A quality breast self-
examination is one that is
done
• completely,
• accurately,
• regularly,
• effectively

can detect breast cancer in its

early stage.
Palpation of the
Breast
The primary objective of
palpation of the breasts, either
by the female person herself or
by a breast specialist, is to
look for the so-called
“dominant” mass,
which if present, is to be
considered a red flag,
i.e., one that needs further
evaluation.
Lumpy
Breast vs
Dominant
Breast Mass
On Palpation
 A fibrocystic breast
condition or change

• is due to hormonal
changes and therefore,
• not considered a disease.

Breast pain without an accompanying

“dominant” mass is usually not due to
breast cancer.
Presence of redness on the surface of the breast,
particularly with accompanying moderate to severe
pain, is usually due to an inflammatory condition or
infection of the breast.
 Recognizing Breast
Conditions and Diseases

A painless “dominant” mass,

particularly in female persons
30 years and older, should not
be taken lightly as this has a
higher risk of being cancerous
than a painful “dominant” mass.
Breast Self Exam (BSE)
Observe for the following:
• Lumps
• noticeable or indentation on the breast
• a change in the contour, texture, or temperature of the
breast
• a change in the nipple, such as an indrawn or dimpled
look, itching or burning sensation
• unusual discharge from the nipple that may be clear,
bloody, or another color.
 Before a mirror
• Inspect your breast with arms at your sides. 
• Next, raise your arms high overhead.  Look for any
changes in contour of each breast—a swelling, dimpling
of the skin, or changes in the nipple. 
• Then, rest palms on hips and press down firmly to flex
your chest muscles.  Left and right breast will not
exactly match—few women’s breasts do.  Regular
inspection shows what is normal for you and will give
you confidence in your examination.
Lying down
• To examine your right breast, put a pillow or folded
towel under your right shoulder. 
• Place right hand behind your head—this distributes
breast tissue more evenly on the chest. 
• With the left hand, fingers flat, at the outermost top of
your right breast, make small circular motions all the
way around the outer edge of the breast until you
reach the top again, pressing gently all the while. (Don’t
panic if you find a ridge or firm tissue in the lower curve
of each breast; it’s normal.)
Lying down
• Then move in an inch toward the nipple and repeat the
procedure. 
• You will probably have to circle your breast three
additional times so that every part—including the
nipple—is examined. 
• Now, slowly repeat the whole procedure on your left
breast with a pillow under your left shoulder and your
left hand behind your head. 
• The whole time, take note of how your breast structure
feels.  Finally, squeeze the nipple of each breast gently
between the thumb and index finger.
In the shower or while taking a bath:
• Examine your breasts.
• Your hands will glide easily over wet skin.  Fingers flat,
move gently over every part of each breast. 
• Use your right hand to examine the left breast, the left
hand to examine the right. 
• Check for any lump, hard knot, or thickening.
When to do Breast
Self Examination
• 1 week after your menstrual
period starts
• when your breasts are least
likely to be swollen or
tender. 
• Examining your breasts at
other times in your
menstrual cycle may make it
hard to compare results of
one exam with another.
How to do Brea
st Self Examina
tion
 Recurrence
• With the exact cause of breast cancer
not being known and with treatment
directed only against the cancer,
there is always a potential for
recurrence after treatment.
• After treatment for a breast cancer,
recurrence can occur in any part of
the body but the more common
locations are in the bones and lungs.
 Attitude and Practice
• At present, the most practical thing to do in
the fight against breast cancer is to detect it
early enough and to have it treated as soon
as possible.
• With early detection and treatment, there
will be reduction in the magnitude of
complications and premature deaths that
are usually associated with advanced breast
diseases.
Breast Cancer Risk Assessment
• Points
Score Level of Risk for Breast Cancer
“Let nothing trouble you, let
nothing frighten you. All
things are passing; God never
changes. Patience obtains all
things. He who possesses God
lacks nothing. God alone
suffices.”
– St. Teresa of Avila
Rest if you must, but don’t you ever quit.
Testimonials