Cancer leading cause of death in Baguio City

By Dexter A. See

BAGUIO CITY– The City Health Services office disclosed cancer was the leading cause of death among city residents over the past two years.

Dr. Donnabel Tubera, CHSO medical officer, said close to 25 percent of the deaths recorded in the city last year were due to various types of cancer which is now a cause of concern among health authorities.

Of the over 2,100 deaths recorded by the CHSO last year, 512 individuals died due to lung, breast, colon, prostate and other types of cancer.

“Cancer emerged as the major cause of death among city residents last year and it is time for our people to take a second look at their lifestyle to prevent them from acquiring life-threatening illnesses that will affect their productivity,” Tubera said.

The medical doctor said aside from being directly related to smoking, cancer is also attributed to lifestyle, especially in the city where people are exposed to pollution, various types of unhealthy food, among others, that could compromise their health condition.

 According to Tubera, people should immediately consult health experts for health-related conditions for them to be provided with the appropriate medication instead of doing self-medication which could be dangerous to their health because of greater chances of wrong diagnosis for the symptoms of their illnesses.

 In 2017, Tubera noted the trend in the number of cancer cases is similar to the established trend last year and people should start working on their diet for a healthy life and for them to enjoy the benefits of good health.

 She said people who contract the dreaded illnesses are getting younger, another cause for alarm among health experts, thus people should study the foods they take in to avoid compromising or aggravating their health condition.

 She said health is wealth with people needing to maintain a healthy decent lifestyle as healthy people remain productive individuals instead of liabilities to their families.

Tubera called on residents in the city’s 128 barangays to seek medical advise from the different health centers around the city for proper diagnosis of their illnesses.

Currently, there are 16 district health centers in the different parts of the city to augment the services being rendered by personnel of the CHSO, located along Teodora Alonzo Street.