25/02/2026
๐๐ต๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ญ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐: ๐ท๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ช๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ป๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฏ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ช๐๐๐๐๐๐
February is more than just another month on the calendarโit is National Cancer Prevention Awareness Month, a timely reminder that many cancers can be prevented through healthier choices, starting with the food on our plates. It is also a call for individuals, families, and communities to become more aware of how daily habits influence long term health outcomes.
๐๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ง๐๐๐ซ
Cancer happens when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably and can spread to other parts of the body. Normally, cells grow, divide, and die in an orderly process. However, when this process is disrupted, damaged cells may multiply and form tumors or spread to other parts of the body (National Cancer Institute, 2023). Cancer can affect almost any organโincluding the breast, lungs, colon, liver, and cervixโand is influenced by a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors.
While not all cancers are preventable, research shows that 30โ50% of cancer cases can be avoided by reducing risk factors such as unhealthy diet, to***co use, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, and obesity (World Health Organization, 2022).
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ญ๐ซ๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐๐ ๐
๐จ๐จ๐๐ฌ?
While some foods protect against cancer, others may increase risk. Processed foods are foods that have been altered from their natural state through methods such as salting, curing, smoking, canning, or adding preservatives. Examples include:
โข Processed meats (e.g., hotdog, ham, bacon, tocino, longganisa)
โข Canned goods high in sodium
โข Instant noodles
โข Packaged snacks (chips, crackers)
Ultra processed foods go a step further. They often contain artificial flavors, colorings, emulsifiers, and high amounts of sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats. Examples include:
โข Sugary drinks and powdered juices
โข Fast food meals
โข Sweet pastries and commercial baked goods
โข Ready to eat frozen meals
High consumption of processed and red meat has been linked to an increased risk of colorectal and stomach cancers (International Agency for Research on Cancer, 2015). Diets high in ultra processed foods also contribute to overweight and obesityโanother major cancer risk factor (World Health Organization, 2023).
๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ญ๐ก๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐ข๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ญ ๐๐๐ซ๐ฅ๐ฒ
Cancer prevention begins early in life. Proper maternal nutrition, exclusive breastfeeding, and healthy complementary feeding help build strong immunity and support optimal growth and development (World Health Organization, 2020). Establishing healthy eating habits in childhoodโsuch as eating vegetables, limiting sugary foods, and staying physically activeโreduces lifetime cancer risk.
Community programs like nutrition education, Pinggang Pinoy promotion, school feeding initiatives, and backyard gardening empower families to access and choose healthier foods regardless of economic constraints.
๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐ฌ ๐ ๐
๐ข๐ซ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ง๐ฌ๐
Good nutrition serves as one of our strongest defenses against cancer. Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables supplies the body with antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals that help protect cells from damage. Fiber rich foods such as whole grains and legumes support gut health and help lower the risk of colorectal cancer (World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research, 2018).
Everyday Filipino foods like malunggay, kalabasa, kamote, kangkong, papaya, and saba are affordable yet powerful sources of cancer protective nutrients. These foods are rich in beta carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, and dietary fiberโcompounds known to support immune function and reduce inflammation.
๐ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ซ๐๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง
This National Cancer Prevention Awareness Month, the message is simple yet powerful: Every meal is an opportunity to protect our health.. By choosing nourishing foods, limiting processed and ultra processed products, staying active, and recognizing early warning signs, we take meaningful steps toward reducing cancer risk.
๐๐ฉ๐๐ฐ๐ข๐จโ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ฐ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฅ ๐คโ๐ฐ๐๐ค๐๐ด ๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐ด๐ก๐ณ๐๐ฏ๐๐ตโ๐ฆ๐๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ฐ๐๐ฎ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ต๐ฆ ๐๐ณ๐๐จ๐๐ข๐๐ด, ๐ค๐ฆ ๐ฎ๐๐ท๐ ๐๐ญ๐๐ด๐๐ณ ๐ต๐ ๐ ๐๐ข๐๐ค๐๐ณ ๐ณ๐๐ด๐๐ญ๐๐ฆ๐๐ต, โ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ฉ๐๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ถ๐ก๐ถ๐๐ฆ ๐ง๐๐ณ ๐ข๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ฑ๐๐ฏ๐๐ด.
//Joyce Louise Mae Reyes, PSU BSND Intern
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๐๐๐๐๐ง๐๐ฃ๐๐๐จ
International Agency for Research on Cancer. (2015). IARC monographs on the evaluation of carcinogenic risks to humans: Processed meat. World Health Organization.
National Cancer Institute. (2023). What is cancer? U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/understanding/what-is-cancer
World Cancer Research Fund, & American Institute for Cancer Research. (2018). Diet, nutrition, physical activity and cancer: A global perspective (Continuous Update Project expert report 2018). World Cancer Research Fund International.
World Health Organization. (2020). Guideline: Protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding in facilities providing maternity and newborn services. World Health Organization.
World Health Organization. (2022). Cancer prevention. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cancer
World Health Organization. (2023). Obesity and overweight. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight
