QUEZON CITY

WOMEN’S HEALTH AWARENESS

BREAST CANCER

MARY ROCHELLE C. PAULINO, MD

Medical Officer IV / OIC, Family Planning Division
City MNCHN Medical Coordinator

ARMALEN A. TAGLE, RN
District 2 PPO III Supervisor
FACT OR MYTH
BREAST CANCER

MYTH Wearing tight bras or underwire bras

Trauma to the breasts, such as

MYTH
accidentally being pinched or
punched by a child
FACT OR MYTH
BREAST CANCER

MYTH Having bigger breasts

MYTH
Finding a lump/mass in your breast
means you have breast cancer
FACT OR MYTH
BREAST CANCER

MYTH
Men do not get breast cancer; it
affects only women

MYTH
Breast cancer is contagious
FACTS: BREAST CANCER
• Among Asian countries,
the Philippines has the
No.1 incidence of
breast cancer

• “3 out of 100 Filipino women

will get breast cancer before
age 75 and one out of 100 will
die before reaching 75”

o Based on Philippine Society of Medical

Oncology report
What is Breast Cancer?
• a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells are
detected in the tissues of the breast.

• these cancer cells can then spread within the

tissue or organ and to other parts of the body.
RISK FACTORS
• Age
• Gender
• Family history
• Inherited factors
• Obesity
• Alcohol drinker
• Exposure to radiation
• Other cancers
 How is diagnosis made?

Check for lumps or Detect changes or Screen for any breast

unusual breast changes abnormalities in the abnormalities or tumors,
breast tissues produced detailed
images on the inside of
the breast
How is Diagnosis made?

BIOPSY
Biopsy will have to be performed in
which a piece of tissue is removed for
examination under a microscope to
confirm breast cancer.
What are the Guidelines on
Breast Screening?
Treatment
GOOD NEWS

More women are surviving the disease as a

result of earlier detection and improved
treatment.
Breast Examination
 Self Breast Examination
 Do Self Breast Exam monthly in all women beginning
age 20

 Best to check about a week after your period, when

breasts are not swollen or tender

 Regularly examine the breasts and look/feel for any

changes such as presence of mass/lumps or
discharge
 STEPS
• Test 1
 Using a mirror, inspect
your breasts with your
arms at your sides, with
your hands on your hips,
and with your arms
raised while flexing your
chest muscles.
 STEPS
• Test 2
 Look for any changes in
contour, swelling, dimpling
of skin, or appearance of
the nipple.

 It is normal if your right

and left breasts do not
match exactly.
• Test 3
 Using the pads of your
fingers, press firmly on your
breast, checking the entire
breast and armpit area.

 Move around your breast in

a circular, up-and-down, or
wedge pattern. Remember
to use the same method
every month. Check both
breasts.
• Test 4
 There are three patterns
you can use to examine
your breast: the circular,
the up-and-down, and
the wedge patterns.

 Use the pattern that is

easiest for you, and use
the same pattern every
month.
• Test 5
Gently squeeze the
nipple of each breast
and report any
discharge to your
doctor immediately.
• Test 6
 Examine both breasts lying down. To examine the
right breast, place a pillow under your right shoulder
and place your right hand behind your head.
 Using the pads of your fingers, press firmly,
checking the entire breast and armpit area.
 Use the same pattern you used while standing.
Repeat for your left breast.
 QUEZON CITY
WOMEN’S HEALTH AWARENESS

CERVICAL CANCER

MARY ROCHELLE C. PAULINO, MD

Medical Officer IV / OIC, Family Planning Division
City MNCHN Medical Coordinator

ARMALEN A. TAGLE, RN
District 2 PPO III Supervisor
FACTS: CERVICAL CANCER
• Cervical Cancer is the third most common cancer in
women worldwide.

• In the Philippines, Cervical Cancer remains as the

second-most common cancer affecting women after
breast cancer.

• It is also the second leading cause of cancer death in

women

• Usually affects women aged 35 to 55, but it can affect

women as young as 20.
Anatomy: Cervix

The cervix is located in

the lower part of the
uterus. It extends into the
vagina.
Definition

• Cervical cancer is a type

of cancer that occurs in the
cells of the cervix — the lower
part of the uterus that connects
to the vagina.

• Various strains of the human

papillomavirus (HPV), a
sexually transmitted infection,
play a role in causing
most cervical cancer.
 Myth or Fact: Causes

• Facts: Cervical cancer is

caused by infection with the
• Myth: Cervical cancer HPV, which is easily passed
is caused by genetic during sexual contact or even
through genital skin to skin
factors, just like the
contact, without penetrative
other cancers. sex.

• About 99.7 percent of women

with cervical cancer are
positive for Human
Papillomavirus (HPV).
Causes
 Myth or Fact: Risk factors

• Facts: In the Philippines, incidence

starts rising at the age of 35,
affecting Filipinas when they are still
• Myth: Cervical cancer very productive.
affects only those women
• Other risk factors: women who have
with multiple sexual
a partner with multiple partners,
partners. previous history of HPV or sexually
transmitted infections, smoking, early
sexual activity, women who are
immunocompromised or on steroids.
Risk factors
 Myth or Fact: Signs & Symptoms

• Facts: There are no early signs

or symptoms of cervical cancer.
• Myth: Since there are
no symptoms of vaginal • HPV infection of the cervix at the
start has no signs or symptoms—
bleeding or discharge, a no fever, no discharge, no
woman need not to have bleeding. So, a woman does not
a Pap smear. know if she has or does not have
HPV infection.

• Regular screening by Pap smear

every one to two years is advised.
Signs & Symptoms
Screening & Diagnosis: PAP SMEAR

• A provider collects cervical cells using a cotton swab. The cells are spread
and stained on slides to be examined by a pathologist.
• Routine screening that can detect early stage cancer & precancerous
conditions that could progress to invasive disease.
Screening & Diagnosis:

Visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) Screening

• Visual inspection of the cervix with acetic acid (VIA) is an effective,

inexpensive screening test that can be combined with simple
treatment procedures for early cervical lesions, provided by trained
health workers.

• Cervix is visualized with the naked eye under a good light source at
least 1 minute after applying 3–5% acetic acid.
VIA test results

• a swab cotton is immersed in acetic acid, and then placed on

the cervix. If an area turns whitish, this is an indicator for health
practitioners to suspect for the presence of cancer.
VIA test results
Diagnostic procedures
• Biopsy
• Pelvic Ultrasound
• Computerized Tomography (CT Scan)
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan
Management
• Chemotherapy
• Radiotherapy
• Surgical treatment
 Myth or Fact: Prevention

• Facts: As early as 10 years

of age are recommended to
• Myth: The best time to get the HPV vaccination.
get the HPV vaccine is
when a woman is older • It is best to have the
or when married. vaccination before sexual
activity starts so that one
develops antibodies to the
HPV virus before sexual
activity might infect one.
• HPV vaccines are administered as a two-dose series (0, 6-12 months) for
most persons who initiate vaccination at ages 9 through 14 years;
and a three-dose series (0, 1-2, 6 months) for persons who initiate at ages
15 through 45 years, and for immunocompromised persons.

• All HPV vaccines have been found to

have high efficacy (close to 100%) for
prevention of HPV vaccine type-related
persistent infection
Prevention
SUMMARY
• Screening and
Vaccination are best
hope in preventing
• A woman must undergo
Cervical cancer.
prevention (changing
one’s lifestyle or avoid
certain environments),
early detection through
screening, and finally
definitive therapy once
the cancer cells develop.