Prostate cancer 9th highest in number of cancer-related deaths among Filipino males

PUA, DOH, Cancer Warriors Foundation, PSUO, and J&J lead fight against prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is one of the top 5 cancers in the Philippines and the ninth highest in a number of cancer-related deaths among Filipino males according to GLOBOCAN. Despite the statistics, awareness of the disease is very low.

The Philippine Urological Association (PUA), together with the Department of Health (DOH), Cancer Warriors Foundation, Inc., the Philippine Society of Uro-Oncologists (PSUO), and Johnson and Johnson (Philippines), Inc., led the observance of Prostate Cancer Awareness Month with a series of activities that aimed to generate greater awareness for the disease. With the unified theme Prostate Cancer Sama-Samang Labanan, Tamang Impormasyon Kailangan, efforts were focused on educating the public on the importance of early detection and treatment to slow the progression of prostate cancer.

A lay forum entitled Usapang Prostate Cancer was live-streamed via the PUA Prostate Cancer Awareness Facebook page on September 11 to underline truths about the disease. Representatives from the Department of Health Cancer Control Division and Cancer Warriors Foundation, Inc. also joined the discussion to share what support the government and privately funded organizations can provide patients and their families. This was followed by free teleconsultations by members of the Philippine Urological Association and the Philippine Urology Residents Association last September 18. More than 300 Filipino males signed up for the free teleconsultation service.

Fighting prostate cancer with information

Awareness on prostate cancer is very low as men do not talk about it in the open and often confuse its early symptoms as signs of aging. These include frequent urination, a weak urine stream, and pain in the lower back, hips, or pelvis. The only bigger warning signs are blood in the urine or semen and pain or burning sensation when urinating.

The risk of prostate cancer increases with age, especially after 50. It can also run in the family, developed through a combination of genes and a poor lifestyle. There is no proven prevention strategy for prostate cancer, which is why early diagnosis is important.

“Information is the most important weapon against prostate cancer,” said Dr. Clarito Cairo, program manager of the National Integrated Cancer Control Program, Disease Prevention and Control Bureau of the Department of Health. “The more people know about its early symptoms, the earlier they can get screened. Even in advanced stages, there are treatments available that still allow patients to live a long life.”

“While mostly indolent, prostate cancer needs to be addressed immediately to stop the cancer cells from spreading to other areas of the body,” explained Dr. Ernesto Gerial, president of the Philippine Urological Association. “Disseminating information about who are at risk of the disease and what its symptoms are can save many lives.”

He added: “The lack of noise around prostate cancer has resulted in unequal support for the disease as compared to breast and cervical cancer. While we at the Philippine Urological Association have been hard at work for many years for prostate cancer to finally take the spotlight, we know that we cannot do it alone. That is why we are happy to be partnering with other medical associations, the government, and Johnson & Johnson in creating greater awareness for the disease and extending help to patients.”

“There is hope in prostate cancer,” said Dr. Erwin Benedicto, head of Medical Affairs of Johnson & Johnson’s (Philippines), Inc. “It is a hard fact that most people should know but don’t—not yet.”

“Doctors are our partners in maintaining good health. Supporting them in the fight against prostate cancer is crucial, especially with the COVID-19 pandemic posing several limitations. By working together, information, proper diagnosis, and appropriate treatment for the disease can be made available for all.”  

About Johnson & Johnson (Philippines), Inc.

At Johnson & Johnson, we believe good health is the foundation of vibrant lives, thriving communities, and forward progress. That’s why for more than 130 years, we have aimed to keep people well at every age and every stage of life. Today, as the world’s largest and most broadly-based healthcare company, we are committed to using our reach and size for good. We strive to improve access and affordability, create healthier communities, and put a healthy mind, body, and environment within reach of everyone, everywhere. We are blending our heart, science, and ingenuity to profoundly change the trajectory of health for humanity. Learn more at www.jnj.com. Follow us at @JNJNews.

About Philippine Urological Association

The Philippine Urological Association is the official organization of urologists in the Philippines. As initiated by our founders, we are committed to: (1) promote the art and science of urology to enhance the professional growth of members and provide wholesome fellowship, (2) provide residents of urology with comprehensive education and training to render patients competent, compassionate and quality care, (3) act as professional partners to our colleagues in other medical specialties, and (4) share time, talent, resources in the service of the community by providing undergraduate urology education.

Meralco Shifting To Eco-friendly Distribution Transformers

 

The shift will make distribution transformers run more efficiently, operate more safely, and be more eco-friendly.

With their goal for a greener and more sustainable Meralco, the power company will begin to retrofill existing transformers with natural ester oil.

The sweltering heat of recent months took its toll not only on the millions who live and work in Meralco’s sprawling franchise area but on power distribution equipment as well, resulting in some power interruptions during the summer. The sharp surge in consumption of residential customers due to work-from-home arrangements and community quarantine exacerbated the situation. 

But that would gradually change and may eventually become a thing of the past as Meralco shifts to an environment-friendlier alternative to the mineral oil used as the insulating liquid for its distribution transformers. 

Data studied by Meralco suggests that using natural ester oil as an insulating liquid allows for higher loading capacities of distribution transformers which is crucial during summer months when electricity demand is higher. The plant-based oil has a higher “fire point” of 360 degrees Celsius compared with 180 degrees Celsius for mineral oil, which will make distribution transformers less of a fire hazard. Data also showed ester oil could extend distribution transformers’ useful life.  

Since natural ester oil comes from vegetables, it is also readily biodegradable—a quality that meets Meralco’s goal of going greener and pushing for sustainability.

Starting this year, the country’s largest power distributor with over seven million customers will retrofill with plant-based ester oil the fluid used to insulate existing distribution transformers.

Meralco plans to spend billions of pesos through 2030 to fill with ester oil more than 180,000 distribution transformers.  The move would make these equipment run more efficiently, operate more safely, and be eco-friendly.

“Using natural ester oil as an insulating liquid in our distribution transformers instead of mineral oil will allow us to extend the life of this crucial equipment as well as do away with using mineral oil that is harder to dispose of,” said Ronnie L.  Aperocho, Meralco Senior Vice President and Head of Networks.

After he was appointed Meralco Chief Executive Officer in 2019, Atty. Ray C. Espinosa underscored that stewardship of the environment and sustainability are among the top priorities of the company that distributes electricity to an area that accounts for around half of the Philippines’ gross domestic product.

At this year’s stockholders meeting, Espinosa unveiled Meralco’s plan to source more electricity from renewables, revamp the company’s vehicle fleet to use more electric vehicles, and use extensively plant-based oil for distribution transformers.

“Going forward, one hundred percent of our new distribution transformers will use plant-based natural ester oil, making these assets 99% recyclable and biodegradable,” he told shareholders.

Personal Collection Joins in Coastal Cleanup Drive

 

Personal Collection Direct Selling, Inc. (PC), a Filipino direct-selling company has joined up with the Marine Conservation Philippines (MCP), an ecological NGO in its continuing campaign to clean up the country’s coastlines and surrounding waters of debris and unwanted wastes, particularly discarded plastics. In keeping with its “A Green Life is A Great Life” manifesto, PC, has tapped its Siaton, Negros Oriental dealers to beef up the coastal cleanup drive of MCP in the southwestern part of the Visayas last October 26, 2021.

Marine Conservation Philippines Program Manager, Soren Knudsen, says, “We earnestly believe that Personal Collection is one of the most committed local companies who advocate for environmental responsibility. We at Marine Conservation Philippines, are honored to be one of the partner organizations and work hand in hand with PC in their efforts to eliminate plastic pollution in the country.”

According to Willie "Jun" Evangelista, Jr., Chairman, Board of Directors of Personal Collection Direct Selling, Inc., “As the pioneer in adopting the use of biodegradable packaging, Personal Collection invites more local communities, environmental groups, and organizations to join the #GreenLifeGreatLife movement for a healthier and greener Philippines.”

The Negros Oriental event was participated by PC dealers and office employees who were on hand for the cleanup along the coast of Albiga Beach in the municipality of Siaton. Their efforts together with MCP and other volunteers netted tons of plastic trash and other debris from both shore and nearby waters, with more cleanup activities expected in the following months. The Philippines ranks as the world’s third-largest source of pollution which makes us extra vulnerable given our archipelago of more than 7,600 islands with nearly 36,300 km of coastline and imperiling one of the world's richest in marine resources if the peril of plastic pollution remains unabated.