Professor Lucy Muralla had her life all planned out. But one day, she felt a lump on her breast and suddenly her world crumbled.

"I am not a nurse or doctor, thus, I had no idea about lumps," she said. And because of ignorance in this area, Muralla equated a lump to a tumor, and worse, breast cancer, thereby causing herself anxiety which affected her concentration and performance at work.

"It's not the 'tumor' I was afraid of. My concern was my family. What will happen to my family? I was worried of letting them spend so much because I'm sick. In other nations, medical care is free. Here, it's not," she said, adding that she even incurred debts because of her biopsy and exams.

"When I held the result of my biopsy, I was crying. I was pleading to God to give me a chance. I was happy that the result showed that my lump was benign," she said.

"However, I have a cyst on my left breast and the doctor said that it is benign, thus it's not necessary to remove it. But this is causing me anxiety," she said.

"I dream to be able to live for my family. I hope that this clinic would help me achieve my dream," she said, referring to the newly launched Breast Clinic of Great Saviour International Hospital - Medical City.

IMPORTANCE OF A MAMMOGRAM

Another patient of the Breast Clinic, Rachel Tiongson revealed that it was through a free testing of their digital mammogram that she found out that she had breast cancer.

"I want to impress upon all women the importance of a mammogram," she said. "Last year, my agony started. Dr. (Rey) Villa mentioned that Saviour has acquired a digital health equipment, so I tried it.

Upon seeing the results, Dr. Villa had an indeterminate suspicion that I have a malignancy. So, I was made to undergo biopsy even if the tumor was small. This means that (with cancer), size does not matter. I was diagnosed with carcinoma," she said. "I praised God it was detected early," she added.

Tiongson said she earlier had a mammogram in a different hospital. Comparing the results with that of Saviour's digital mammogram, she found that the latter yielded a far clearer and more defined image. "There was a big difference," she said.

Tiongson was given two options – removal of the breast or lumpectomy (removal of the lump) with radiation. "I opted for the second because I wanted to save my breast. Presently, I am taking medicines and anti-cancer supplements and living a healthy and happy lifestyle," she said.

Tiongson revealed that she underwent another mammogram this year and the doctors said that the results are encouraging.

"We women are very fortunate for having the Breast Clinic. But, the clinic and equipment are just half of it; the other half is the team of well-trained and competent doctors of Saviour. To Dr. Villa, Dr. Bondoc and team, thanks for taking care of me," she said.

As for her experience, Tiongson said it made her a stronger woman.

THE BREAST CANCER CLINIC

According to the Breast Clinic literature, the facility provides efficient and effective, multi-disciplinary care for breast patients. "We work under the standard protocols of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Breast Cancer Screening Diagnosis Guidelines 2009 and NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology – Breast Cancer VI 2009. We have a developed a one-stop shop that will shorten waiting time and lessen clinic visits. Your consultation, diagnostic procedures, laboratory and biopsy results are all in one place. These important aspects of breast care are integrated to each other therefore assuring fast accessibility," the literature stated.

The clinic's multidisciplinary approach includes: comprehensive history and breast examination, diagnostic mammography, screening mammography, mammogram guided needle localization for breast biopsies, ultrasonography, ultrasound guided biopsy, pathologic diagnosis, surgery, post-surgical treatment, medical oncology and radiation oncology appointment, coordinating and planning, oncotype DX texting and genetic testing for high-risk patients, patient follow-up and local cancer recurrence monitoring, access to experimental therapies as part of clinic trials and patient education and breast cancer survivorship programs.

RISKS

According to Dr. Venerio Gasataya, surgeon, the person's risk factors for acquiring breast cancer are family history especially on the first degree (parents or siblings), no pregnancy and the age when one had her first menstruation.

With regard to a woman's first menstruation, Dr. Roberto Alfabeto explained that cancer is sensitive to estrogen. As for family history, he said that if cancer is prevalent in the maternal side of the family, there is 20 percent risk, while for the paternal side, 10 percent.

As for genetic testing, he added that science has now detected chromosomes BRCA1 and BRCA2, which cause cancer once they mutate.

EARLY DETECTION

Dr. Demie Tidon urged women to be responsible for their breasts as early as 20 years old. "Seven to 10 days after menstruation, examine your breasts (palpation). Palpate by using the fingers to examine the breast opposite it. A tumor does not collapse. So, press your lump against the ribs. If it collapses, it is only a tissue. Palpate the armpits, too, with raised hands (enlargement of the lymph nodes is a symptom of breast cancer). Palpate against the ribs any lump that you feel in order to see if it is a tumor or only a tissue."

Dr. Wilfredo Polido reiterated that the best cure for breast cancer is early prevention. "Ninety four out of 100 women are still alive in five years when diagnosed with Stage 1 cancer. At stage four, 18 out of 100 will live. This ratio shows that we should detect breast cancer the earliest. It is a woman's best chance of survival," he concluded.

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The Breast Clinic is located at the second floor of The Great Saviour Hospital. The said hospital is operated and managed by The Medical City, with address at Molo, Iloilo City and with telephone number (033) 3381509. Their website is www.themedicalcityiloilo.com.*