Breast Center opens at TMC-Clark

(DOCS AT YOUR SERVICE. (L-R) Dr. Oliver Paul Wilson S. Chan, Quality Improvement and Safety Department manager; Dr. Annapil N. Pe, Breast Radiology; Dr. Allan Celi, chair Department of Radiology; Dr. Gregorio Cortez III, member Department of Pathology; Dr. Paolo Andre Espiritu, co-head of Dermatology and Plastic Surgery Center; Dr. Felicidad Claudia Ordoñez, head of Breast Center; Dr. Joseph Jude Mercado, breast surgeon; Dr. Erwin Alcazaren, founding head TMC Ortigas Breast Clinic; and Charmaine Joyce Hernandez, Breast Center nurse. Photo by Ning Cordero)

CLARK FREEPORT – Keep Calm, Mammogram.

A posterized slogan underscored the proper response to fears of just about every woman who has come of age.

With studies that established one out of 13 Filipinas will develop cancer in her lifetime, the Philippines is one of the countries in Southeast Asia with the highest number of breast cancer cases diagnosed each year.

Thus, the slogan made a fitting backdrop at the launch Friday of The Medical City- Clark’s state-of-the-art Breast Center, the first one-stopshop breast center manned by highly trained surgeons and radiologists in Central Luzon.

It is aimed primarily to cater to patients from north of the national capital region.

“Women from different parts of Central and Northern Luzon who wish to have their breast examined will no longer travel far to Metro Manila as we already have here in Clark,” said Dr. Noelito Lacsamana, chair TMC-Clark Department of Surgery during the launch.

Patients who seek consultation at TMC-Clark are assured of proper care adopting the multidisciplinary, holistic and individualized case management which comprise the TMC-Clark signature approach to health care.

“Quality care is delivered with the help of dedicated medical oncologist, breast pathologists, rehabilitation medicine specialists, plastic surgeon and nurse,” TMC-Clark said in a statement on the Breast Center launch.

Health experts have always encouraged young women to have their regular breast check-up for early detection of lumps and prevent the occurrence of cancer.

Doctor Francisca Rosario-Tan, head of the TMC Cancer Center, said women at very young age, especially those who have started their menstruation, must seek screening or regular-check of their breast to prevent cancer.

According to her, women with breast cancer do not feel anything unusual at the early stage. Hence, she said, it is called “silent in the beginning.”

“Breast cancer is common, it can happen to anyone and anytime. It emerges unnoticed until it reaches a certain size,” the TMC-Clark statement said.

“That is why we are encouraging young women at the age of 20 to have their regular screening,” said Rosario- Tan.

– Bong Z. Lacson with TMCC PR