Dreams for long life

Hilda Co Ong wanted to be a doctor when she was young.  When her family was unable to support her dream, she settled for a course in accounting at the University of Santo Tomas.  Little did she know that her painful journey would lead to her life’s dream. 

Hilda’s battle with cancer is not her own.  Her high school sweetheart and husband, Jonah, was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer (cancerous tumor at the back of the nose toward the base of a skull) early in marriage.  This prompted Hilda to devote most of her time tending to her husband’s medical needs for the next five years.  While the hospital became their second home, Hilda self-studied on the disease and closely worked with doctors to help ease her husband’s suffering.  Sadly, in 1990, Jonah finally succumbed to his ailment.

In the same year, Hilda’s health suffered and she underwent radical hysterectomy.  She also sadly witnessed the demise of her brother, Jarvis, and sister-in-law, Ediren, also due to cancer diseases.  After her recovery, Hilda was asked to work again to the family’s business.  Hilda spent several years working for the electrical supply company.  While the work provided for her two children, Jhon Henson and Jeff Hanzen, she felt confined with the clerical and administrative work.  With sheer determination and strength, she left the company and ventured on to support her family on her own.

For the following years, Hilda was able to put up and manage two hair salons.  While financially stable, Hilda felt the calling of a higher purpose.  Guided by years of experience spent caring for her husband and relatives, she now sought to help other patients suffering from cancer.  To this end, Hilda created Long Life Distributor Pharmaceutical to make available alternative medicine and food supplement to cancer patients.

 

“At Long Life, we import alternative medicine and herbal food supplements for cancer patients.  We want to teach patients and caregivers the best care when undergoing chemotherapy and radiation therapy.  It is also important for cancer patients not to lose hope and employ positive thinking when fighting cancer,” shares Hilda.  “This way, we can ease the pain and agony of cancer patients.”

“These are my goals right now.  I will not stop searching for the best alternative for preventing cancer.  Cancer patients or their relatives can come for my advice any time,” says Hilda.  Interested parties can come to Long Life Distributor Pharmaceutical, Inc. at 913 Benavidez Street, Binondo, Manila.  Listeners can also check Hilda’s “Health & Travel @ Serbisyo Publiko” radio program over DWBL 1242 and DWDD 1134 kHz.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month

On breast cancer, Dr. Rachael Marie B. Rosario, Executive Director of Philippine Cancer Society Inc, stressed the need to strengthen advocacy efforts on early detection among Filipino women. “Breast cancer is a curable disease when detected, treated and managed early,” she said.

Early detection of breast cancer need not be tedious.  Right after the menstrual cycle, women should undergo breast exams regularly and look for changes or signs out of the ordinary.  This type of exam, that takes only several minutes, can also be done to one self.

BSE when laying down.

My take:  Be a sister and spread the awareness and information on breast cancer.  Please encourage and teach other women to conduct the breast self-exam.  If you have a daughter in her 20s, it is time to teach her this important life lesson.

As women we should be aware of how our breasts normally look and feel.  If there are noticeable changes even at the slightest, these are to be reported to a medical professional immediately.  However, please take note that a breast change does not necessarily mean it is a sign of cancer.

For a step by step guide on how to conduct the breast self-exam (BSE), please refer to www.cancer.org.

The instructional piece describes how to perform the BSE correctly right at the comfort of your own room.  The BSE should be done while lying down and standing up in front of a mirror.

From the 2010 Philippine Cancer Facts and Estimates released by the Philippine Cancer Society, breast cancer remains at first rank among women, accounting for almost 30 percent of all female malignancies.  The data also shows that with breast cancer, the 5-year relative survival rate for Pinays is at 47 percent.  The incidence rate of having breast cancer starts rising steeply at age 30.

On the same note, the data reveals that three out of every 100 Filipinas are likely to develop breast cancer in their lifetime and that one out of every 100 is likely to die from the disease before age 75.

Hot Tip:  Before conducting the BSE, I suggest you place yourself in a relaxed mood, take your time and do not breeze through the process.

Lifting Weights to Lose Weight

Most women gym-goers spend most of their time doing cardio exercises.  Cardio exercises are usually held in groups doing aerobics, taebo, hi-low, bench, hip hop dance and zumba routines.  Others join spinning classes, yoga, and pilates sessions.

My take:  It is not true that you will look less feminine because of the muscle bulk brought by lifting weights.  It takes a lot of work for women (compared to men) to build muscle mass because our bodies are engineered to host more fat than men (in preparation to child bearing).  Lifting weights twice or thrice a week on a regular basis will give you muscle mass, cuts and tone but not the build you are afraid of, the kind that are entered in to fitness competitions.

It is easy to understand why women favor this type of exercise routines.  They are simply fun, easy to learn and leave you sweaty as most of us equate sweat as having burned lots of calories.  (This is not necessarily true, though.  More on that later.)  Plus, the group energy easily entices you to pump up more adrenalin and move more as you execute the movements as a group.

There is practically nothing wrong about doing cardio exercises day in and day out.  This type of exercise strengthens your heart, burn calories and gives you a natural high, thanks to the endorphins released during exercises.  Thus, cardio exercise is very much part of any weight loss program and so is weight lifting or strength training.

This part of the gym, where the weights are, is scarcely filled with women.  Surprisingly, there are elderly women who often accompany me when I fill my weight-lifting quota.  I observed that the rest rarely or never set foot near the weights.

DJ does strength-training.

Lifting weights, compared to cardio routines, admittedly, can be pretty boring.  Most of the time, it is an individual workout involving cold dumbbells and exercise machines while you mentally count your repetitions and sets.  But I stay motivated because of its many benefits and continue to slave away with guys grunting, flexing and sweating along this side of the gym.

First of all, weight lifting burns calories just like any aerobics class.  With less rest periods in between repetitions and sets, your heart rate goes up as you lift, pull, and push weights.  The bonus part is that the burn lasts a full hour at most after the exercise session.

Second, weight lifting builds muscles.  You need muscles to improve your performance during cardio classes.  Muscles shape your body resulting to a better looking physique and better fitting clothes.  Muscles take less space that fat thus, you may weigh the same but with less fat.  A big bonus is that muscles burn calories even when at rest! 

Third, weight lifting strengthens bones and connective tissues.  This is important to fill up your bone bank.  Lifting weights encourages the utilization of calcium thus making the bones stronger and denser.  This can protect your body from injuries from your daily routine as we grow older.

Fourth, weight lifting enhances balance and stability.  Again, you need this to perform your daily routine involving work and leisure and/or other exercise routines.  Your poise and the way your carry will dramatically improve, too.

Hot Tip:  Work your way up to lifting heavier weights with less repetitions when you want to bulk up.  Lift lighter weights with more repetitions when you simply want to tone up your muscles.  Do not skip on the warm-up and cool-down sessions to lessen muscle pain.

Breastfeeding is on the Rise; Lactation Stations for Working Moms

Breast milk is BEST for babies.

As mandated by law, every August is Breastfeeding Awareness Month and we are especially happy to note of reports that the country “gained significant increases in exclusive breastfeeding rates”. 

The reports from the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI-DOST) that showed exclusive breastfeeding rates have raised from 36 percent in 2008 to 47 percent in 2011.  Figures also noted that the initiation of breastfeeding within one hour of delivery has increased from 32 percent in 2008 to 52 percent in 2011.

While the International Labour Organization (ILO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the World Health Organization (WHO) appreciated these developments, these organizations encouraged the country to work on the challenges of breastfeeding upon the re-entry of Filipino mothers in their respective workplace.

My take:  As mom, I am proud to say that I have breastfed both of my two daughters for as long as two years.  With my first child, I was working with a non-governmental organization then thus my work set-up fully supported my breastfeeding schedule.  On the second time, I was working on a freelance project that only required spending several hours, three times a week at the office so I had no problem with breastfeeding my daughter.  Now that I am working full-time, I am doubtful I will be afforded to breastfeed if ever I chose to have a third child.

Under Republic Act 10028 or the “Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009,” signed by President Arroyo last March 16, 2010, government offices and private establishments are required to set up “lactation stations” where working mothers can breastfeed their babies or store their breast milk in refrigerated containers.  Lactation stations must be equipped with fixtures (comfortable seats, small table, lavatory for hand washing) and facilities (refrigerators, electrical outlets) for breastfeeding and storing breast milk.

The WHO advocates exclusive breastfeeding for six months as key to curbing malnutrition and infant mortality. Studies have proven many times over that breastfeeding remains the “unequaled way of providing ideal food for the healthy growth and development of infants.”

Government offices and private establishments have yet to comply with the law and encourage mothers to continue exclusively breastfeeding their babies even after their maternity leave and during her work assignment.  Pro-women and pro-babies establishments that abide by this law can avail of tax deductions for private firms or additional budget for government offices.  With these incentives, hopefully, we will get to see more and more establishments very soon both in public and private sectors having lactation stations as common as your office tables and chairs.

Hot Tip:  Under the Milk Code or Executive Order 51, signed by President Corazon Aquino in 1986, breastfeeding women in the workplace are to be compensated for lactation breaks of not less than 40 minutes during an eight-hour work period.  This break, allotted for breastfeeding or expressing milk, is on top of the regular breaks and lunch hour.

Keep your Children Safe from Rainy day Diseases

During the rainy season, our kids are prone to infectious diseases like the common cold, cough, flu and pneumonia.  While we, as parents, do what we can at home to protect them from sickness such as providing healthy food, vitamin supplements, lots of rest, warm clothing and shelter, we can only hope that our kids will be spared from serious downtime due to sickness.

Nothing beats playing under the rain.

My take:  The fun never stops when children play under the rain.  As much as we want them to enjoy over an extended amount of time, it is prudent to let them play and soak with rainwater for fifteen minutes at most.  After taking a bath with lukewarm water, let them wear warm clothing to beat out the chill.  

Instead of fretting while they are at school or simply enjoying the outdoors, it is best to teach them how they can protect themselves from disease-causing germs throughout the day with these four easy steps:

Sneeze or cough into a tissue or handkerchief
You should teach your kids to cover their mouths when coughing or sneezing to avoid spreading germs into the air, infecting other kids around them. With germs ever present, it is easy to transmit bacteria to other kids as they tend to explore their environment and accomplish tasks with their hands.  

Give them the necessary shots
The rainy months are more than just cold weather and cancelled classes—it’s also the season for particular diseases for children. The flu and the good old cough and colds are the two biggest disease risks that children can catch, and one good way to prevent it is to get them vaccinated.

For coughs and colds, get them on a nutritious diet along with the necessary supplements to keep their immune system strong.

Frequent hand washing
The frequent hand-to-mouth activity and excessive curiosity of the children in school
is a common concern. Teach your kids to wash their hands frequently with soap and water. It is the most effective way to avoid getting sick from harmful germs and bacteria. After playing games on dirty classroom floors, the use of mechanical friction and soap and water is useful in removing microorganisms and other contaminants. You should instill in your kids the importance of hand washing as the basic requirement for proper hygiene.

Use a trusted hand sanitizer
For the most part of the day, your kids maybe frequently on the move and may not have a ready access to running water to keep their hands clean. To keep them protected anytime, anywhere, the next best thing would be to have a hand sanitizer within their reach. Hand sanitizers can be found just about everywhere, whether in school, at home or in the grocery store.


Hot Tip:  According to scientific studies, the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers by children significantly reduces the transmission of gastrointestinal disorders. The studies also found a positive correlation between increased use of hand sanitizers and decreased risk of respiratory illnesses.   Additionally, hand sanitizers have been shown to kill bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella, and Streptococcus pneumonia.

More on Leptospirosis

Following the heavy rains and flooding in Metro Manila and nearby provinces like Laguna, Bulacan, Cavite, Pampanga and Rizal, the Department of Health recently raised a leptospirosis alert.

Mostly of us, who have found ourselves wading through the flood, must be aware of how deadly this disease could be.

My take:  News report said that a pharmaceutical company recently raised the price of a drug usually prescribed to the treatment of leptospirosis.  Obviously, this company raised its profit margin in the expense of flood victims and rescue personnel who had no choice but come in contact with flood water.  Instead of making a fast buck, we should show compassion and charity during calamities.

According to medicinenet.com, leptospirosis is an infectious disease caused by a type of bacteria called a spirochete. leptospirosis can be transmitted by many animals such as rats, skunks, opossums, raccoons, foxes, and other vermin.

It is transmitted though contact with infected soil or water that is contaminated with the waste products of an infected animal. People can contract the disease by either ingesting contaminated food or water or by broken skin and mucous membrane (eyes, nose, sinuses, and mouth) contact with the contaminated water or soil.

The first phase of symptoms includes flu-like symptoms like headaches, muscle pain, eye pain when exposed to bright lights with chills and fever.  There could be watering and redness of the eyes that may seem to improve by the fifth to ninth day.

The second phase of symptoms may begin a few days of feeling well and these are:   recurring fever and aching and stiffness of the neck.  Other symptoms are serious inflammation of the nerves to the eyes, brain, spinal column and other nerves.  There could also pain in the right upper abdominal area.

For information sake ONLY on the treatment of this disease, I found this post from a MA student who is a medical doctor.

For Post-exposure prophylaxis for leptospirosis (single exposure to flood water WITHOUT wounds/ cuts/skin lesions): Doxycycline 100mg/cap 2 caps single dose within 24-72 hours; 

(single exposure WITH wounds/ cuts/ skin lesions): Doxycycline 100 mg/ cap 2 caps once a day for 3-5 days to be started immediately within 24-72 hours;
(CONTINUOUS exposure with or without wounds): Doxycycline 100 mg/ cap once weekly until the end of exposure.

Word of caution:  Doxycycline is CONTRAINDICATED in children, pregnant women, breast feeding or in those allergic similar drugs (tetracycline, minocycline). There may need dose adjustment for those with liver of kidney disease.  DO NOT TAKE with iron supplements, multivitamins, calcium supplements (including milk or dairy products) within 2 hours before or after taking it.

Hot Tip:  Please be advised that the above information does not take place of a proper prescription from a medical doctor.  It is heavily advised to seek professional advice from your doctor before the intake of any medicine.

Hepatitis C: Even ordinary people can get infected

Most Filipinos take for granted Hepatitis C as an infectious disease.  More often than not, the majority thinks that only people who abuse drugs or who are sexually promiscuous can be infected with Hepatitis C.  This is far from the truth.

My take:  Patients need understanding and support more than pity or prejudice.  They can seek out organizations that are dedicated to counseling and assisting patients.  These groups also pool resources and pertinent information to make treatments manageable and bearable to both patients and their families.

Hepatitis is an infectious liver disease.  It is a deceptive illness because of its long incubation period.  “One of the most devastating aspects of Hepatitis is that it is a silent killer.  Infected people may carry the virus unknowingly for years without symptoms until it causes serious – and even irreversible and fatal – liver damage.  Thus, prevention and early detection are our best weapons against the disease,” said Dr. Diana Payawal, president of the Hepatology Society of the Philippines.

Risk factors for Hepatitis include blood transfusions and organ transplants (particularly those done before 1992, when blood screenings became more rigorous), illegal drug use via needles, getting tattooed in non-licensed facilities, having unprotected sex with multiple partners, long-term dialysis, and being born to infected mothers.

Symptoms that can occur with the infection include fatigue, appetite loss, abdominal pain or swelling, dark urine, nausea, vomiting and yellow skin or jaundice.

Dr. Jose Sollano Jr., past president of HSP and Asia Pacific Association on the Study of the Liver explained that “some people have the misconception that hepatitis afflicts only drug users or people who are promiscuous, which is absolutely untrue. Ordinary people can get infected, even though everyday activities such as pedicures, as well as lifestyle activities such as tattooing.”

With 1.1 million to 1.9 million people with chronic Hepatitis expected to die prematurely of cirrhosis or liver cancer, prevention and early detection are crucial.  However, because of the stigma related with disease, many opt to keep their medical condition secret.

Patient talks about her struggle and hopes to recovery.

Take the case of a 54-year old stay-at-home mom.  She dedicated her life building a home for her husband and kids with social activities confined to the usual gatherings and celebrations with friends and family members. 

Imagine her dilemma when she found out her disease, a fact she has to reveal to her husband, an overseas worker.  Because of the stigma, she kept silent for a time until her friend and doctor convinced her to talk to her family.  She got infected with a tainted instrument used during a caesarian section more twenty years ago.

Today, Esperanza Masangkay (in photo) is undergoing treatment with the loving support of her family and friends.  Their overwhelming understanding and love surprised and erased her doubts and fears.  Recently, she bravely faced a crowd of strangers in an effort to educate and eradicate the stigma that patients face when dealing with Hepatitis C.

“I think what you do once you’ve been diagnosed is more important than how you became infected.  Do not lose hope.  Talk to your doctor and seek medical help,” said Masangkay. 

Hot Tip:   MSD, a pharmaceutical company, launched its Patient Education and Persistence Program last year with the goal of providing hepatitis B and C patients with easier access to treatment.  In their Integrated Cure Campaign, patients can avail of as much as 50% discount on MSD viral hepatitis drug.  They also provide free HBV-DNA and HCV-RNA testing to patients.  On top of this, they also provide free ribavirin to Hepatitis C patients on pegylated interferon alfa-b.  All patients prescribed with these drugs can automatically avail of MSD’s pricing schemes.