Bill seeks to boost awareness on prostate cancer

MANILA, Philippines - A pending bill in the House of Representatives seeks to establish a program to educate the public and raise awareness on prostate cancer. House Bill 5313 aims to inform males of the availability and appropriateness of procedures for detecting cancer in its early stages, including the procedure known as prostate ultrasound. "Early detection would prevent future disease progression. The treatment in the early stages of cancer is less than when done in its advanced stages," author and Rep. Narciso Santiago III said in an article on the House of Representatives website. Santiago said even patients who managed to survive cancer still require treatment to ease symptoms such as pain, bleeding and urinary obstruction. Under the bill, the education campaign shall also include the frequency and type of examination that is appropriate for various age groups of men. In filing the bill, Santiago noted that "prostate cancer is now considered as one of the leading causes of death among Filipino males." He also cited the recommendation of the American Cancer Society and the American Urological Association that men over 40 years old should undergo periodic testing for the early detection of prostate cancer. - GMANews.TV