Air pollution, ‘environmental toxicity’, unhealthy lifestyle blamed for increasing incidence of disease
LEUKEMIA has been a most neglected disease in our country, not only from the end of government but also from the general citizenry, according to Dr. Erlyn Demerre, founder and chair of board, EPCALM Adult Leukemia Foundation of the Philippines.
In a 2005 report from the Philippine Health Advisories of the Department of Health (DOH), leukemia ranks fifth in overall mortality – fourth among the Filipino males and sixth among the Filipino females the various cancer sites.
An incidence rate of leukemia at 6.6 per 100,000 Filipinos was also stated in the same report, with leukemia as the leading cancer among children between the ages of 0-14.
Unfortunately, these statistics can now be considered as history since the surveys were done more than a decade ago, said Dr. Demerre and this is one of the reasons why EPCALM spearheaded an awareness campaign for leukemia through the first-ever observance of World Leukemia Awareness Month (WLAM) in the country last month.
By MYLENE C. ORILLO
VitalSigns Issue 68 Vol. 3, October 1-31, 2014
Disclosures: This is part of Mylene Orillo's article in Vital Signs entitled: "Surviving leukemia" dated October 1-31, 2014. See link to the article below:
Comments