Health Update

Joy Angelica Subido

Is adopting a healthier diet and lifestyle after getting cancer somewhat like closing the barn door when the horses have already bolted? Certainly not. There is no reason to feel depressed and “throw in the towel.” With better medications and improved technology, the future continues to be even more promising for cancer patients. Cure and survival rates have vastly improved, so that with a commitment to eschew cancer-causing habits, a growing number of individuals are discovering that there really is life after cancer after all.

Along with alcoholic beverage and smoking cessation, physical activity, constant medical monitoring, and avoidance of carcinogens in the environment, a key lifestyle factor in preventing the recurrence of cancer is better diet. Studies have shown that the disease is less common in countries where the typical diet is low in total fat, polyunsaturated and unsaturated fats, and experts suggest that cured foodstuff containing cancer-causing chemicals and preservatives should be avoided in favor of healthier alternatives. Of course, awareness campaigns have been invaluable for prevention, early detection, and improved remission and cure. Taking into account that breast cancer is by far the most frequent cancer among women worldwide, and that the Philippines has the highest incidence rate in Asia, GlaxoSmithKline’s (GSK) embarked on a campaign dubbed “More Than Words.” The GSK initiative “calls for people to engage in proactive dialogue and positive action to improve the awareness, management, and care of breast cancer patients around the world.”

In line with the GSK program, celebrity chef Rob Pengson recently provided healthy, easy-to-prepare alternatives for breast cancer survivors. Members of a support group called “Corridors of Hope” engaged in friendly competition to prepare the healthy recipes. The activity was followed by a discussion on the importance of nutrition by Dr. Romulo de Villa, president of the Molecular Oncology Society of the Philippines and dean of the College of Medicine, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila.

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