I received a “Press Release” from Madam Nancy Cudis of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI). It contains a report about the increasing incidence rate of thyroid cancer in Metro Cebu. Kindly take time and read the article, this might also help you. Be aware, be informed!

Taking thyroid cancer seriously

With the increasing incidence rate of thyroid cancer in Metro Cebu, the Eduardo J. Aboitiz Cancer Center (EJACC) of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) urged the public to undergo early screening and prevention measures to fight the disease.

“Thyroid cancer is high on prognosis. It is preventable through various screening methods, such as physical examination and ultrasound of the neck, as well as some prevention measures, including regular exercise and maintenance of a well-balanced diet,” Ronald delos Reyes, EJACC program coordinator, said.

Based on EJACC’s Metro Cebu Population-based Cancer Registry, the incidence rate of thyroid cancer in 2003 to 2007 is high but the mortality rate is comparatively lower.

Within this period, about 573 cases of thyroid cancer were reported and 116 were recorded to have died of the disease. The figures also show that 97 cases have been attributed to persons in between the ages 15-30 while 350 cases are persons with ages 30-60. More women than men have been affected by this disease; in fact, 134 cases are male while 439 cases are female.

As a common type of cancer diagnosed in men and women, thyroid cancer ranked sixth in most common cancer cases in Metro Cebu.

According to the 2010 journal of the Philippine Cancer Facts and Estimates of the Philippine Cancer Society, the incidence rate had increased from 1980 to 2002, with an annual change of 0.4% in males and 1.6% among females.

            Thyroid cancer is the most common cancer of women at ages 15-24 years. Among women, the incidence rate rises at age 30 and continues to rise with increasing age. Among men, the incidence rate begins to increase much later, starting at 60 years old.

            The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located in the front of the neck just below the Adam’s apple. It works like a tiny factory that uses iodine, mostly from the diet in foods like seafood and salt, to produce thyroid hormones that, in turn, help regulate the body’s growth and metabolism and other functions of the body.

            The most common signs and symptoms of thyroid cancer include a lump or thyroid nodule, that can be felt in the neck; trouble in swallowing; throat or neck pain; swollen lymph nodes in the neck; cough; and vocal changes.

People exposed to high levels of radiation are much more likely than others to develop papillary or follicular thyroid cancer. Treatment with x-rays is one significant source of radiation exposure. Between the 1920s and the 1950s, doctors used high-dose x-rays to treat children who had enlarged tonsils, acne, and other problems affecting the head and neck. Later, scientists found that some people who had received this kind of treatment developed thyroid cancer.

            People who are diagnosed with this kind of cancer may undergo surgery. Common surgeries include thyroidectory, lobectomy, and tracheostomy. Sometimes, even the removal of the thyroid itself is needed.

“Like many other cancers, thyroid cancer may be more easily cured with early detection. Earlier diagnosis removes thyroid cancer at a time when they are not likely to have spread beyond the thyroid gland,” delos Reyes said.

For more information about thyroid cancer, please contact EJACC at 254-6351and look for Gina Mariquit.

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Here’s something new from Semidoppel’s Reports! As part of my belief that blogging is a form of journalism, I will be including public service reports on this site. In this way I can help my fellow Filipinos, I’ll do my best to help them to become aware on some aspects which are sometimes taken for granted. Welcome to my online journal!

I already noticed this long time ago, and I was unaware that time. My questions were answered when I started to have this field of work I am currently in.

I am pertaining to local laborers or workers who are working without the use of personal protective equipments. By the way, what are these Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs)? These PPEs are composed of simple gadgets/equipments which served as barriers for hazardous conditions (e.g. safety goggles, hardhats, earplugs, safety shoes, safety harness, etc). I am just wondering, are the employers of these workers aware about the rule/law about personal protective equipment safety and devices? Are they even aware about safety at work?

Here’s what I found!

RULE 1080
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AND DEVICES

1081: General Provisions:

1081.01: Every employer as defined in 1002:

(1)Shall at his own expense furnish his workers with protective equipment for the eyes, face, hands and feet, protective shields and barriers whenever necessary by reason of the hazardous nature of the process or environment, chemical or radiological or other mechanical irritants or hazards capable of causing injury or impairment in the function of any part of the body through absorption, inhalation or physical contact.

 (2) Deduction for the loss or damage of personal protective equipment shall be governed by Article

114, Book III, Labor Code of the Philippines, and Section 14, Rule VIII, Book III, Omnibus Rules Implementing the Labor Code.

1081.02: All personal protective equipment shall be of the approved design and construction appropriate for the exposure and the work to be performed.

1081.03: The employer shall be responsible for the adequacy and proper maintenance of personal protective equipment used in his workplace.

1081.04: No person shall be subjected or exposed to a hazardous environmental condition without protection.

It is very clear that PPEs should be issued to each worker and it should be free. They are obliged to do this because it was mandated by law and it should be followed. Safety of the workers should be the primary concern by these employers, and it is also the right of the workers to decline a job whenever a hazardous condition on the work place is present. Employers should think that safety is an investment and never an expense. One more thing, the PPEs that will be issued should pass safety standards, PPEs are made from durable materials and designed to withstand different hazardous environment.

SAFETY is an INVESTMENT and never an EXPENSE. Though issuing of these PPEs requires budget, it should be categorized as an investment. Workers are the primary assets of an employer so he should protect their welfare.

Imagine what might happen if there are no:

• Hardhats to protect your head from falling debris
• Safety shoes that will prevent foot injuries due to slips and trips
• Safety goggles that will serve as a barrier to protect you from dusts and other minute particles
• Ear plugs that will minimize noise, helping you to avoid deafness
• Safety harness that might save your life when working on heights
• SCBA (Self-contained Breathing Apparatus) that will provide air, preventing asphyxiation

If the rules stated above are neglected by an employer, a worker can report it to DOLE (Department of Labor and Employment) and take note, it is punishable by law.

Kindly share this information, let’s spread this safety awareness. Safety is not a responsibility, it should be a part of our life and live with it as a culture.

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Before I tackle this topic, may I request my readers, followers and fellow bloggers to have an open-mind regarding this. This post is a serious one, critical but educational. We will all know the truth behind the fallacies and facts about sex and getting pregnant. I decided to choose this topic because as I observed, many men and women are not familiar and not well informed and as a result, unwanted pregnancies even at an early age occurs. Let’s have a little Sex Education, the facts and information I will share are from reliable sources and all of them were researched before published.

Can women get pregnant during menstruation?

Yes! According to the research done by experts, women can get pregnant anytime, that includes even during menstruation. The chances are never absent during the menstrual cycle, the possibility are just higher during the days when women are not having their period.

Is the “Rhythm method” reliable?

It depends. Those couples who rely on the “rhythm method” to bear a child is will find it more effective than those who rely on it to avoid getting pregnant. Only few women are having regular monthly menstrual cycle, and according to studies only 30% of all women have this kind  of monthly period. So couples who chose to have sex “before and after” the menstruation period is not really safe, doing it unprotected will make it more possible to get pregnant.

I’m not fertile when I have my period

False. According to the studies made, a woman having her menstrual cycle can be fertile even at day 4. This study was proven with the observations done to 213 women with ages 25 to 35.

I still can’t get pregnant even though we do it every day.

Overdoing it will make the chances low and might have an opposite effect. Lack of sperm count during intercourse is one of the factors that contribute to unsuccessful conception. During the ovulation wherein a woman is more fertile it is more likely to have sex, so couples should be aware about when is the best time for your partner to do it.

I won’t get pregnant if I urinate right after sex.

False. Once the sperm/semen has successfully entered the cervix, there’s no way to stop it.

It’s my first time, I won’t get pregnant.

False. At any age as long as a woman’s body was fertile enough, ovulation will occur and pregnancy takes place.

We use the withdrawal method, that’s safe.

False. Men have this so-called pre-cum, wherein drops of sperm came out during sex… unnoticed.

Thanks for reading and I hope you learned from this article. Subscribe naman ‘jan! ^_^

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According to Dr. Juliet Cervantes, ex-president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo should undergo operation within this week. Arroyo was diagnosed with damaged cervical spine with multi-level cervical spondylosis, so should immediately undergo operation to prevent paralysis.

“The surgery will decompress the nerves and align the cervical bones. The surgery is risky since it involves the spinal cord and nerves that enable hand movement and breathing,” Cervantes told a press conference. Yahoo News

Arroyo is now confined at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig City, and she will undergo work-up in preparation for her operation. Cervantes said that all the stresses that happened this past few days to GMA contributed to her condition.

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Everyone knows that pretty woman and what beautiful smile she has. Her honest and deep laugh that comes from within makes even the saddest person smile. She obviously is taking care of that pearlies that sparkle. This allows her true personality to shine. This is not normal for everyone  but a lot of people have serious cosmetic issues with their teeth. It never gets to show the sunny side of their personality. They have huge self-confidence issues because they are always conscious of their teeth. Some people with teeth problem avoids smiling  or sometimes they try to give a grin but still it emanates a feeling of discontent. To some it’s even  frustrating and sometimes may even lead to depression. Others misinterpret a sad and serious look and the person is being labeled of being cranky. Sometimes dental wonders can help such as dental veneers. This will help to give you that celebrity smile.

There are also crowns and bridges and it allows the person to make the corrections quicker. This modern process is less evasive and the person gets to enjoy the results almost instantaneously! Good oral health-care is very important not only for cosmetic reasons but for the entire well being of a person. Many issues like low self confidence can be resolved by making simple corrections. It may even be easier to get a quality job because employers  tend to hire positive  people.Communication and customer service with clients and potential customers involves speaking, smiling and engaging in conversations unhindered by issues with misaligned teeth. Misaligned crooked teeth may hinder the next promotion on your job and the investment you make will be worth so much more in the end.

“Do you have a Julia Roberts Million Dollar Smile ?” is contributed by Diane Flanders of  veneersguide.com.

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What is OXIS? Actually it is OXIS International, a company which is engaged on producing products that helps defuse oxidant stress which is harmful to our body. Oxidant stress occurs when the body’s antioxidants are no longer sufficient. OXIS is focused on producing products for anti-aging, products with antioxidant, glutathione and those that neutralize free radicals.
They have this super antioxidant they called Ergothioneine which they used on their products for nutraceutical, cosmeceutical and therapeutics. It is an amino acid-type of antioxidant which is soluble in water produced by microbes found in the soil.
OXIS will produce two products this year namely, Ergo-Pur ™ and Ergo-Plex ™. Ergo-Pur ™ contains a pure form of our highly potent multifaceted antioxidant, on the other hand Ergo-Plex™ contains the combination of ERGO plus other functional nutraceutical ingredients.
OXIS will continue their research about oxidative stress neutralizers, according to their site, the company we will develop other nutraceuticals and functional foods such as nutrition bars, energy beverages and single serve shots that lend themselves to traditional retail distribution.
Click the link to check their site:
http://www.oxis.com

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Allen Iverson will not be with the whole 76ers team this season. He wants to be with his 4-year old daughter, Messiah who is now suffering from an illness. Messiah is in the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the doctors are still working to find out what might be the cause of the girl’s illness. Iverson already missed his last five games, and because of his in-and-out of the lineup, the officials decided to have a permanent break with A.I. According to a source, Eddie Jordan, 76ers coach told his team that Iverson may not have a chance to be on their team. Iverson didn’t attend the All Star Game even though he was voted by fans to be one of the starters for the Eastern Conference.
On a statement by the Sixers General Manager Ed Stefanski released last Monday afternoon he said that, “At this time, we feel that it is in the best interest of the Sixers, Allen and his family that he be allowed to deal with a very serious issue that is far greater than the game of basketball”.

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