DOH: 'Don't die like Farrah, eat your veggies'
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 07/01/2009 6:10 PM
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BAGUIO - Barely a week after actress Farrah Fawcett died of anal cancer on June 25 (Los Angeles time), officials from the Department of Health in Baguio City warned the public to eat their vegetables lest they suffer the same fate.
The 62-year-old "Charlie's Angels" actress had suffered a long battle with colorectal cancer, which is reportedly the second most common cancer affecting patients in the United States, next to lung cancer.
Studies show that the risk for colorectal cancer is higher among older people, smokers, patients with existing ulcers, alcoholics, and people with low-fiber, high-protein, and high-fat diets.
Dr. Elvira Belingon, Medical Officer V of the Baguio Health Department, said that the condition can be avoided by eating vegetables daily and adopting a healthy lifestyle.
"In most studies, meat eaters, along with those with genetic dispositions [to the disease], have a high risk of acquiring this. Malaki ang relation nito sa unhealthy lifestyle," she said.
She added that a balanced diet of meat and fiber-rich vegetables can help offset the disease, along with regular check-ups, exercise, and avoiding vices.
Belingon explained that the disease can affect the rectum, colon, and the body's digestive system causing bowel movement problems, painless bleeding at the rectum, or bloody stool. Other symptoms include abdominal discomfort, vomiting, unexplained weight loss, and tiredness.
According to DOH records, the incidence of colorectal cancer among Baguio residents increased slightly from 16 cases in 2007 to 28 cases in 2008. Report from Philip Erpelo, ABS-CBN Northern Luzon.
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