To help male residents of Quezon City detect early stages of prostate cancer, a lady lawmaker has urged the City Health Department to conduct prostate cancer screening using the Digital Rectal Examination (DRE).
QC Councilor Jessica Castelo-Daza said in a proposed resolution that prostate cancer tumors are slow-growing, thus survival rates are excellent when the disease is detected in its early stages.
It is therefore advisable, she said, that a medical examination and check-up including DRE should be conducted among men, especially those who are 40 years and older.
“A cancer of the prostate does not cause symptoms early because the malignant tumor usually develops in the outer portion of the prostate, and therefore, does not cause blockage of the urethra. Even without symptoms, this form of early stage of the cancer may be detected during a medical examination. This is the reason why a regular check-up, including DRE, is very important even to those who show no symptoms, to catch prostate cancer before it spreads,” she explained.
The disease is a serious condition and life threatening especially if it is in the advanced stages, thus it is but right that our city government should offer health assistance through the conduct of prostate cancer screening using the DRE to male city residents, Councilor Daza said.
She added that health care is one of the basic services that the QC government must provide to QC residents. -30- Maureen Quinones, PAISO
