MANILA, Oct. 14, 2011–Despite the celebration of Breast Cancer Awareness Month every year in October, the connection between cancer and oral contraceptives use is never addressed, a Cebu-based physician said.
Cebu-based Human Life International (HLI) Pilipinas director Dr. Rene Josef Bullecer pointed out that it is ironic that the celebration of Breast Cancer Awareness Month only focuses on its campaign on the cause, prevention and treatment of the disease, and patently ignore the connection between cancer and oral contraceptives.
Major events such as seminars, fun runs/walks, free clinics and features on breast cancer survivors have been lined up to mark the month-long celebration, and “of course these activities are very commendable,” he said.
“But I was viewing a local TV program several nights ago where the guests — obstetricians and an event director — discussed the signs and symptoms of breast cancer, how to avoid breast cancer and the contributory factors on how women may be afflicted with breast cancer. I was shocked that they never mentioned the role of oral contraceptives in triggering breast cancer. One of the doctor-panelists even denied the pill-cancer connection,” Bullecer related.
“As a doctor of medicine and a pro-life fighter, I cannot afford to just close my eyes and ears to the truth that the use of oral contraceptive pills as well as Depo-Provera injectables can cause cancer, as the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the World Health Organization (WHO) declared on July 29, 2005 that ‘artificial contraceptives’ are ‘carcinogenic,’ at par with cigarettes and asbestos,” he pointed out.
“Artificial contraceptives can trigger cancer of the breast, cervix and liver,” he added.
Besides the WHO declaration, Department of Health (DOH) former chief Dr. Esperanza Cabral also admitted in an April 2011 interview over DZIQ that contraceptive pills increase the risk of breast cancer.
“I really pity our women — for more than 40 years since the artificial family planning program started in 1967, women were never told about the horrible medical side-effects of these pills,” Bullecer said.
“How many hundreds of thousands of Filipina mothers have died because of cancers, stroke, hypertension, diabetes triggered by oral contraceptive use? Who will speak for these helpless victims?” he said further.
“I am challenging all doctors, nurses and midwives in this country, particularly those working in the government or NGOs who vigorously promote these products in their day-to-day campaign, and I dare them to speak up for the truth (or they are themselves traitors to their own patients and countrymen) and expose the hidden agenda of the multi-billion peso pill manufacturers at the expense of the health and lives of Filipino women,” the doctor said.
“With the sinister RH Bill pushed in both chambers [of Congress], can the proponents say we never knew about these? And then even proudly declare that the RH Bill is pro-women?” he asked. (CBCP for Life)
