Navy officers' wives hold breast cancer awareness drive in Bicol

Philippine Daily Inquirer, Thursday, July 29, 2010

The Philippine Navy Officers' Wives Association Inc.
(PNOWA) spearheads a Seminar on Breast Cancer Prevention
cum Medical Mission in Barangay Rawis here starting today
(Friday, July 23), announce the Public Affairs Office of
the Naval Forces Southern Luzon (Navforsol).

Commodore Joel Babas, commander of the Navforsol told PIA
News Service that the activity is a parallel endeavor of
the PNOWA to complement the continuing programs of the
Philippine Navy across the country to uplift the morale
and enhance the well-being not only of the Navy officers
and personnel but also their family, relatives and dependents,
much as the community the Navy serves.

Babas added that similar activities will also be conducted
at the Navforsol Fleet-Marine Quarterdeck in Julahasan Arasain
Headquarters in Barangay Rawis to be manned by the naval
station's organic and Opcon units' personnel the next day
starting at 9:00 am. PNOWA is an association of all wives
of officers of the Navy, led by the wife of the Flag Officer
in Command of the Philippine Navy.

PNOWA has tapped the Gift2Life (G2L), a non-government
organization with health and medical fields of work, to
provide for the doctors to hold lectures on breast cancer
prevention, thereafter render clinical services to the
community. One breast cancer survivor, a member of the
contingent, will share testimonials on coping up and pursuing
one's dreams and aspirations despite stricken by the disease.

Babas remarked that this initiative is indeed a great
opportunity that should be taken advantage of every resident
to learn as cancer is the third leading cause of death in the
country following communicable diseases and cardiovascular
diseases. He shared that breast cancer is second to lung cancer
among the six leading causing-death cancers. In spite of the
stark reality, there is at present a low cancer prevention
consciousness in the entire country. Most Filipino cancer
patients seek medical advice only when symptomatic or at
advanced stage. As a result, for every two new cancer cases
diagnosed annually, one dies within a year.