During my early childhood, we often heard my mother telling us the story of their friendship (3 of them are cousins). All fond memories about their childhood and teenage as they got married at very young age "18".

What struck me is the story of their cousin who was bedridden for 15 years because of bone cancer. Too painful to hear how she suffered, and how the disease robbed her childhood, her teen years which eventually ends with death.

Few years back my cousin died also of breast cancer. If I was able to fulfill my dream to be a M.D., maybe I would have done the least possibility to make difference with this disease. I’m sorry my dear cousin.

I can still remember the days when are living together in one roof here in the metropolis (me and my sister; she and her brother; and my other 3 cousins who were also sisters. She and my sister were grade school teachers in Maranatha. She graduated with honors from elementary, high school and A1 coed in College. She has been our mentor for she wanted us to follow her academic footsteps. Strict, meticulous, stubborn sometimes but still she's has been great to us. When my sister went to Canada, I moved out to a nearby city and eventually got partner. She was one of the Godmothers of my son. When she was hospitalized, all relatives were surprised and affected of the sad plight. After 3 sessions of her chemo, she got better and all thought everything is going ok. I tried visiting her when time permit, with freshmilk as present for her for fast recuperation.

All of the sudden, she passed away! Leaving the two children (a daugther age 5 and son age 4) motherless.  It is because of cancer :(

The human body consists of about 100 trillion cells that form a very complex society that is characterized by mutual dependence, cooperation and coordination. Each cell in the body has an assigned function. Normally, a cell that dies is replaced by an identical cell and additional cells are produced only when needed.

Cancer develops when a cell or a group of cell, either spontaneously or in response to the presence of a cancer-causing agent (carcinogen), transforms (mutates) into an abnormal (cancer) cell that disobeys the body’s control mechanisms, fails to perform its assigned function, and multiplies rapidly.

There are many known carcinogens. They are in the air we inhale, the personal and work environment we are exposed to and the food we eat and drink. Tobacco, air pollution, many chemicals, certain drugs, radiation, some viruses and sunlight are just some of them.

When cancer cells appear, the body defense system will try to eliminate them, but sometimes the abnormal cells can overcome this defense system and are able to proliferate. In time, their progeny form a mass or tumor. Later, they invade adjacent and distant organs where they displace the normal cells. Cancer cells progressively damage the organs they have occupied until, eventually, one or several fail and the person dies.

A person’s genetic make-up determines how strong his/her defense system is against cancer cells. Thus, some people are more susceptible, while others are more resistant to cancer.

All told, cancers result from a very complex and poorly understood interaction among a variety of environmental, lifestyle and genetic factors. Nevertheless, although much still needs to be learned, we already know enough about cancers enable to dramatically reduce our risk of developing and dying from them.

We know, for example, that more than 75% of all cancers are associated with just three factors I.e.., tobacco, alcohol and diet) while another 8% are associated with pollution and environmental hazards. Tobacco and air pollution cause cancer of the lungs and other organs of the respiratory system. Alcohol is associated with cancers of the digestive tract, liver and breast. A diet that is high in saturated fat is associated with cancers of colon, pancreas, breast, ovary and prostate, while high-salt diet predisposes one of the cancers of the stomach, esophagus and nasopharynx. Ultraviolet light from the sun is a major risk factor for skin cancer.

We also know that certain substance called antioxidant such as carotene (vitamin A) and vitamin C, which abound in vegetable and fruits, helps prevent the development of some cancers.

We likewise know that a high fiber diet reduces the risk of cancer of the colon.

We can, therefore, greatly reduce our risk for cancer if we:

• Refrain from smoking
• Drink alcohol moderately
• Avoid air pollution
• Protect ourselves from the sun
• Adhere to a low-fat, low-salt and high-fiber diet that includes generous amounts of fruits and vegetables.

Lastly, most cancers are curable if detected and treated very early. Cancer for which early detection or screening leads to an improved outcome include cancers of the breast, cervix, colon, prostate, testes, oral cavity and skin.

Hence, be ever mindful of the early signs of the most common form of cancer and consult a doctor as soon as you noticed any of them. Furthermore, pay your doctor an annual visit for a complete physical examination and when indicated, cancer screening tests.