Philippe: September is International Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.
Dr. Vizmonte: I’m Dr. Edwin Vismonte. I’m a urologist at a De Los Santos Medical Center.
Dr. Vizmonte: Ano ba ang prostate? Ngayon, para maintindihan yung prostate, syempre, i-discuss na naman natin dahil nauugnay din ito sa urinary tract system, sa kamil reproductive system. The spelling is U-R-O, not neuro.
It’s a urologist, U-R-O. It’s like urine. Urologist is yung the word, urine. Di ba?
Urine. We’re experts in where the urine flows.
Philippe: Do we have a higher percentage in terms of prostate cancer in the Philippines?
Dr. Vizmonte: Prostate cancer is the fourth leading cause of death in the Philippines.
Philippe: Is there a certain geography in terms of prostate cancer?
Namimili ba siya ng lugar? Is there a certain environment?
Dr. Vizmonte: Kung sino yung mas higher risk na magkaroon ng prostate cancer?
Actually, with regards to prostate cancer, higher risk to make…
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Philippe: Siguro, just as an intro, Doc, just tell us who you are, what your expertise are, and why should our viewership listen to you?
Dr. Vizmonte: Okay.
Dr. Vizmonte: I’m Dr. Edwin Vismonte. I’m a urologist at De Los Santos Medical Center.
Philippe: We appreciate you coming here, Doc.
Dr. Vizmonte: Okay, thank you for inviting me, Philippe.
Philippe: Thank you, Doc. So, Doc, you did mention, I think kahapon, it was when we were on the call or nag-chitchat ata tayo, right?
You said September is…
Dr. Vizmonte: International Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.
Philippe: There we go, there we go. So, as a urologist, is that yung core focus mo sa prostate?
Dr. Vizmonte: Anyway, dapat siyempre malaman nung nanonood or nakikinig kung ano ba ang urologist.
Although kami namang mga sa Philippine Urological Association, we have been trying to promote what a urologist is.
Dr. Vizmonte: Basically, ang urologist is yung the word, urine. So, lahat ng daanan ng ihi, we’re experts in where the urine flows. So, male and female.
Kasi minsan kami mga urologists, we’re being associated with, we are doctors of men lang.
Dr. Vizmonte: Pero kasama rin yung mga babae. Kasi siyempre yung babae, umiihi din.
Meron ding kidneys, ureter, pantog. Kasi kaming mga urologists, aside from the urinary tract system, kaya kami na-associate sa mga lalaki na kami mga doctors ng mga lalaki.
Dr. Vizmonte: Kasama rin kasi sa amin yung expertise ng male reproductive system.
Philippe: I see, okay.
Dr. Vizmonte: So, yung mga fertility, etc.
Philippe: Okay. So, because not everyone, it was only recent. Ang dami sa mga friends ko, tinatanong nila, what is the prostate?
Nasa atin lang ba yan? Is it only for men? Or sa babae din meron?
Dr. Vizmonte: Sa lalaki lang ang prostate.
Philippe: I see, okay
Dr.Vizmonte: Para maintindihan natin, we should know the urinary tract system. Urinary tract system, yan yung nagfilter ng dugo.
So, the urinary tract system is composed of the kidneys. Left and right, nandito yan. Sa baba ng ribs, sa likod.
Dr.Vizmonte: Parang ganyang kalakiyan, medyo nakatiklip na palan. So, ito yun, yung kidneys. So, yung kidneys, yan yung nagfilter ng dugo.
Kung mapasok yung dugo ganyan, babalik yan sa heart para ma-filtered na yung dugo. And then the heart will distribute yung malinis na dugo sa buong katawan. Now, ang product niyan is urine.
Dr. Vizmonte: Ihi. So, yung urine, magtravel yan sa ureter, left and right. Mas manipis pa sa straw. And then may ipon lahat ng ihi dito sa urinary bladder. Sa pantog, dito yan sa puson. It’s like a balloon, no?
Napupuno na yan ng ihi, tapos pipiga. Sa baba ng ihi, ng pantog, nandun yung prostate. Dito yan, sa prostate.
Dr. Vizmonte: Parang yan, nakaikot lang na gano’n, no? Parang doughnut, no? Sa baba ng pantog, no?
And then, yan yung uretera sa lalaki. Lalaki lang ang may prostate. Babae ay wala.
Dr. Vizmonte: Ang function kasi ng prostate sa lalaki, nagsisecrete yan ng fluid kasama ng sperm cell para makaloon na yung sperm cell dun sa egg cell during sexual activity. Now, ito nga yung prostate. Ito yung cross section.
Kung ito yung pantog, no? Balloon. Sa baba, nakiikot yung prostate, no? Ang normal size kasi ng prostate, nasa 20 grams. Kasi lakiyan ng walnut. Walnut size, no?
Dr. Vizmonte: Yan yung description sa mga English books. Pero siyempre, kundi lang… Usually, nakikita natin walnut balat na, no?
So, yung mas ma-associate natin yan sa Pilipinas, kasing size siya ng siniguelas or lansones. Now, as we age, no? At the age of 40, it slowly increases in size.
Dr. Vizmonte: Lumalaki. So, pag lumaki siya, pwedeng makompress or maipit yung baba ng balloon. Yung bladder neck nga ang tawag namin doon.
Pag naipit yan, no? Mahirap ang umihi ang pasyente. Pag nahihirap ang umihi ang pasyente, hindi na lalabas lahat ng ihi, pro na magkaroon ng infection kasi naiiwan yung ihi.
Dr. Vizmonte: At the same time, since connected dyan, yung pressure dito sa pantong, urinary bladder, mag-i-increase, magbabalik sa kidneys. Magre-retrograde. And then, pwede niyang sirain yung kidneys.
Philippe: Pag pumalik?
Dr.Vizmonte: Pagka tumaas yung pressure dito at umakit yung pressure sa kidneys, magbabaloon out din yung kidneys. So, importante, dapat maganda yung flow ng ihi.
At maganda yung labas ng ihi. Ngayon, siyempre, pwede nga lumaki yung prostate, pero kahit naman malaki yung prostate, pero kung di naman barado, okay lang. Malalaman mo yun sa mga nararamdaman ng pasyente.
Dr. Vizmonte: Kung kumara yung pasyente, ang feeling niya, lubos na nilalabas yung ihi, maya-maya ang ihi, putol-putol yung flow ng ihi, iniiripa para ilabas yung ihi. Sa gabi, bangon ang bangon ng ihi. O kaya, hindi umaabot sa CR, nababasa yung ihi.
Or may hesitancy, may pigil, yung paglabas ng ihi. Pwedeng merong bara yung labasa ng malaking prostate. So, we have to address that.
Philippe: How do we address this in terms, do we need to do a regular blood work check-up? Or do we have to visit a urologist just like yourself?
Dr. Vizmonte: Yes, they have to visit a urologist.
And then we assess. Kasi merong depende, ang treatment niyan depende sa severity. Pwede kasing kunwari, meron tayong tinatawag na IPSS scoring.
Dr. Vizmonte: International Prostate Symptom Score. Kung kunwari hindi naman ganun kataas yung score, we could just observe. Pero kung kunwari moderate, we could give medications.
Ngayon, with regards to medications, para lumuwag yung prostate, meron tayong tinatawag na alpha blockers. Pamparelax lang actually yun ang prostate. Para maganda yung flow.
Dr. Vizmonte: Or pampaliit ng prostate. Yung mga dutasteride, finasteride. Ngayon, siyempre, sa pag-treat ng mga patients, we have to consider yung mga side effects ng medications.
Philippe: Okay, like what
Dr. Vizmonte: Kasi minsan, pag binibigay mo yung pampaluwag ng ihi, pwedeng meron tinatawag tayong retrograde ejaculation. During sexual activity, hindi na lumabas yung semelion ng maayos, pumupunta sa pantog.
Philippe: I see.
Dr. Vizmonte: So dapat, kung narin, binigyan nga kayo ng mga prostate medications, nararamdaman nyo yan, you have to tell your urologist so that we could modify the medications. At the same time, meron din yung pampaliit ng prostate.
You don’t give the medicine unless we’re sure na hindi siya prostate cancer. Kasi meron tayong tinatawag ng PSA. Sa ngayon kasi ang dinilidiscuss natin, more on prostatic enlargement. Mamaya pupunta naman tayo sa prostate cancer.
Philippe: What is the age range for, sa katulad tayo, as guys, our friends, fathers, brothers, what’s the age range that’s recommended by you in order for us to get checked or screened?
Dr. Vizmonte: Oo. Actually, kasi with regards sa prostate, tatlong entities yan. Pwedeng lumalaki yung prostate because of age. Yan yung tinatawag nating benign prostatic enlargement.
Or number two, namamaga lang ang prostate. Yan yung tinatawag nating prostatitis, which is more common in male patients na less than 40 years old.
Philippe: Okay.
Dr. Vizmonte: Kasi usually, with regards to prostatitis, na-aggravate yan. Kung puna rin, nag-hold ka parati ng ihi. Nagpipigil ng ihi. So, nagiging prone na mamaga yung prostate due to infection.
And number three, yung tinatawag nating prostate cancer. Yung prostate mismo, tinutubuan ng bukol.
Dr. Vizmonte: And then, yung bukol na yan, yung cancer pwedeng mag-spread sa ibang parts ng katawan.
Now, yung sa tanong mo nga na kailan ba magpapatingin ang male patients, at the age of 40, kasi actually, with regards to prostate cancer, walang nararamdaman ng pasyente. Unless na talagang grabe na.
Dr. Vizmonte: Ang grabe niyan is kung kumalat na sa buong katawan, na hindi na natin matatanggal. Kasi usually, ang ina-attack niyan, yung mga bones.
Kung kumari ina-attack niyan yung bones, magkakaroon ka ng mga bone pains, masakit yung mga balakang mo, etc.
Dr. Vizmonte: So, with regards to prostate cancer, kung ikaw ay may kamag-anak na merong cancer, regardless of kahit anong cancer, breast, prostate, etc., you have to be screened right away at the age of 40.
Ang screening namin diyan, meron tayong mga blood tests. Number one, yung tinatawag na PSA.
Prostate Specific Antigen. Saka yung Digital Rectal Exam. Kung kumari, ang PSA mo tumataas, it needs further investigation.
Dr. Vizmonte: Although, pwedeng may nakikinig diyan. Magpapatest siya ng PSA mataas. Don’t panic.
Kasi minsan, yung normal range ng PSA nagbabari rin yan. Pwede kasing tumaas ang PSA dahil sobrang laki ng prostate. Number one or number two, pwedeng may infection yung prostate and other factors.
Dr. Vizmonte: So, talagang dapat makita ng neurologist. Saka, siyempre, kinakapa yung prostate. Meron tayong tinatawag na Digital Rectal Exam, DRE, o na Gloved Finger, kinakapa yung nagrectal exam and kinakapa yan.
Dapat yung prostate, ang ramdam niyan, parang ganyan. Dito sa thinner area, kapag kapamo, firm. Kapag malambot siya, pwedeng prostatitis.
Dr. Vizmonte: Pero minsan, mararamdaman kang parang bukol. Itong parang knuckles. Magdududa yung urologist na pwedeng may prostate cancer.
It needs further investigation.
Philippe: So, these two types of screening, is that PSE?
Dr. Vizmonte: PSA, Prostate Specific Antigen.
Philippe: Is this like blood work?
Dr. Vizmonte: It’s just a blood exam
Philippe: I see. And the second one is more on..
Dr. Vizmonte: Digital Rectal Exam. Kaya lang, siyempre, through the years, nagde-develop yung technology.
So, dati puro ganun lang. And then, during the pandemic, merong lumabas na new test, yung multi-parametric MRI of the prostate. Kasi minsan, siyempre sa may pwete, sa may pwetan, kakapain mo.
Dr. Vizmonte: Minsan, di mo nakakapa yung sa harap. Tapos, mapapansin mo, taas ng taas yung PSA. Wala ka namang nakakapa or what.
Dati kasi, kapag ganyan, nagbabiopsi na lang kami. Ang tinatawag nung biopsi, sa rectal area, meron tayong pinapasok ng ultrasound probe. And then, yung prostate na ganyan, kumukuha kami ng laman, 6 sa kaliwa, 6 sa kanan.
Dr. Vizmonte: Kaya lang, you could not target yung, baka meron yung probability na hindi mo ma-target yung area na merong bukol, kung sobrang liit.
During the pandemic era, lumabas nga yung multi-parametric MRI. It’s an MRI of the prostate, specific for the prostate.
Dr. Vizmonte: Nakikita dun yung higher incidence, yung area. Kunwari, may nodule, may bilob. Meron tayong tinatawag na pyrod scoring.
1, 2, 3, 4. Pag 1 and 2, pwede mong i-observe, lesser chance ng magkaroon ng prostate cancer, yung area, yung parang nakikita nilang nodule. Pyrod 3 intermediate, pwedeng oo, pwedeng hindi.
Dr. Vizmonte: Pero pag pyrod 4 and 5, there is a high probability na pwedeng cancer yun. So talagang kinakailangan mo nang i-biopsy. At the same time, pag nakita nila yan, yung mga images na yan, meron tayong tinatawag na MRI fusion biopsy.
Mahirap indindihin. Pero actually, pag inisip mo ng todo, kasi minsan kami dati, nung mga unang panahon, pinapag-ultrasound namin yung prostate, minsan may makikita kamputidyan o itim. O baka ito, cancer o hindi.
Dr. Vizmonte: Pero sa studies, nakita nila wala namang correlation. Hindi siya talagang masasabing cancer o hindi. Pero with the MRI, mas makikita mo, kunwari, 90% sure cancer to or hindi.
So ang ginawa, merong na-develop na bagong machine, yung ultrasound na lahat ng mga images ng MRI, parang pinapatong doon sa ultrasound. And then, minamap siya computerally. Kunwari, yun.
Dr. Vizmonte: Pag ultrasound mong ganoon, meron talagang nakalagay na area doon. And then, yun yung tinatarget natin.
Philippe: How accurate is that?
Dr. Vizmonte: Much accurate than yung ginagawa namin before na nagkukuha lang ng aning sa kaliwa, aning sa kanan. Actually, dati nga, nauso pa yan. Yung talagang mas marami yung kinukuha sa kaliwa, mas marami yung kinukuha sa kanan.
Philippe: And it’s not invasive, diba? Kasi MRI plus yung ultrasound.
Dr. Vizmonte: Pero it’s a little bit, ano pa rin, syempre, tutusok ka doon sa prostate.
Philippe: Tutusok pa rin.
Dr. Vizmonte: And then, naka-anesthesia yung pasyente. Syempre, kinakilangan hindi gumalaw yung pasyente.
While we’re targeting the area na high probability na pwedeng prostate cancer, mas matatarget namin. Hindi, kung baga, hindi uusog yung area.
Philippe: How many years have you been an expert in prostate?
Dr. Vizmonte: Ah, urologist. Actually, I’m a doctor since year 2000. Pero, syempre, you should have further training.
Meron kang residency in surgery and then residency fellowship in urology. Siguro, mga 20 years na akong urologist.
Philippe: So, in these two decades, ano masasabi mo yung, do we have a higher percentage in terms of prostate cancer in the Philippines? Or are we, kasi in some other countries, may mas pata sa certain type of cancers.
Dito, alam ko, a lot of heart disease. Is prostate cancer among a lot of Filipinos in terms of what you experienced in the last two decades?
Dr. Vizmonte: Oo. Actually, prostate cancer is the fourth leading cause of death in the Philippines. Tapos, with regards to, through the years, kasi, syempre, mas nagkakaroon ng awareness because of media, et cetera.
Ngayon, social media. Mas nagiging aware yung mga pasyente na magpa-check. Lalo na sa male patients.
Dr. Vizmonte: Di ba? Usually, male patients, usually, they’re tagged na wala silang pakiramdam sa health. Mas iniintindi nila ng trabaho.
So, usually, dapat kasama dyan, syempre, yung mga kamag-anak, yung asawa, o yung anak na they should really convince their father or their husband to seek consult and have screening.
Dr. Vizmonte: Ngayon, syempre, through the years, since nagkaroon ng mas magandang awareness, mas tumataas yung incidence ng prostate cancer. Not because na talagang mas dumadami lalo yung prostate cancer.
It’s because na mas maraming nagpapa-check.
Philippe: Aware na sila.
Dr. Vizmonte: Oo. Aware na sila. And then, with regards to prostate cancer, kasi, actually, through the years, paiba-iba ang data.Saka, actually, yung mga guidelines, paiba-iba pa rin through the years.
Minsan, ganito dapat ang gagawin. Tapos, after two years, ganito ang dapat gagawin. No? Yun, actually
Philippe: Is there a certain geography in terms of prostate cancer? Namimili ba siya ng lugar? Is there a certain environment?
Dr. Vizmonte: So, kung sino yung higher risk na magkaroon ng prostate cancer? Actually, with regards to prostate cancer, higher risk kung may kamag-anak ang may prostate cancer.
Philippe: So, that’s the one common tip kung meron.
Dr. Vizmonte: Oo Kaya nga, at the age of 40 pa lang, magpapa-check na ang mga lalaki. Pero ngayon kasi, for the past three years, sabi nila, kahit hindi prostate cancer,
kahit, kunwari, yung nanay mo may breast cancer or any form of cancer, kailangan magpa-check ka na at the age of 40. Yun yung number one. Hereditary or familial factors or genetic factors.
Philippe: And it has to be at the age of 40?
Dr. Vizmonte: Yun yung recommendation natin na magpa-check yung pasyente. Number two, syempre, race. Yung mga Black Americans, mas prone silang may prostate cancer.
Philippe: Oh, I see.
Dr. Vizmonte: So, mas maaga silang nagpa-screen talaga dapat.
Philippe: How early?
Dr. Vizmonte: At the age of 40 rin talaga. Kasi kunwari, hindi ka naman at risk. Ang recommendation ngayon is at the age of 55.
Philippe: Is this because of environmental factors or is this just genetics?
Dr. Vizmonte: Genetics. Saka, syempre, age. Kasi yung with regards to prostate cancer nga, meron kaming data.At the age of 60, half of patients have prostate cancer.
Pero, huwag kang magpanik kasi minsan, actually, with regards to prostate cancer, minsan hindi naman siya nakakaapekto sa normal life ng pasyente. Sometimes, some people die, not because of prostate cancer, but because of other factors like hypertension, diabetes, etc.
Philippe: And they’re much at risk of dying because of that?
Dr. Vizmonte: Not because of prostate cancer.
Philippe: And is prostate cancer more curable than the rest of it?
Dr. Vizmonte: Yes, it’s more curable. And it could be eradicated kung na-catch natin siya sa early age.
Kaya nga, nandito kami para to make the patients aware na at an early stage, at an early age, kailangan magpa-check kung at risk ka talaga.
Philippe: What are your tips to prevent the enlargement of prostate? Is there any natural remedy or any medication that you would recommend? Or lifestyle? Ano yung…
Dr. Vizmonte: Hindi mo mapipigilan yan. Kasi with regards to enlargement of the prostate, kasama yan sa mga hormonal factors. Parang kasama yan sa aging.
Philippe: Aging talaga?
Dr. Vizmonte: O, kasama sa aging. Wala talagang prevention yan. Saka usually, kung kunwari, nasa genes mo talagang lalaki ang prostate. Lalaki at lalaki yan.
Ngayon, siyempre, meron silang… meron sinasabi, dapat siyempre, fit ka. Usually, mas prone na lumalaki yung prostate kapag obese, no exercise, et cetera.
Philippe: Nagpa-check ka na ba? I think it’s because I also got to experience this because in all of my friends, lalo sa gym, yung mga bata, yung mga twenties pa thirties, they don’t even understand what a prostate is.
Pero yung mga fifties, lahat sila, dumay na sila sa screening. But, the young ones, they’re not aware na dapat ay, dapat magpa-check up pala ako ng ganito. Syempre, bata pa sila. Twenties up to thirties.
Philippe: I think, do you think that dito sa Pinas, are we well educated in terms of telling people, oh, dapat magpa-check up kayo at the age of forty for prostate, dapat magpa-check kayo na blood work for cholesterol, for any other symptoms, for cancer.
Do you think we have the right programs here sa Pinas? Is the DOH giving the right information or enough information to the public to be aware of these types of sickness?
Dr. Vizmonte: Actually, with regards to DOH, they have a lot of programs naman eh. Makikita mo naman yun eh. Kaya lang, alam mo naman ng Pilipinas, maraming ginagawa halos.
Pero actually, ano eh, kasama yan eh. Kaya nga kami mga urologists, we’re exposing ourselves in media, social media, for the people to be aware with regards to awareness, with regards to preventing prostate cancer, etc. Pero, sabi ko nga, at the age of forty, dapat magpacheck lahat eh.
Dr. Vizmonte: Magkaroon ng general check-up eh. Male and female eh. Kasi at the age of forty, talagang doon nagsastart na mag-deteriorate na ang pasyente.
Philippe: So for females, punta tayo sa females. Sa men, alam natin, we have to check our prostate and all. Sa females, kasi alam ko, females are more prone to UTIs.
So, you have female patients.
Dr. Vizmonte: Yes
Philippe: And are they forty above, or do we have younger?
Dr. Vizmonte: Meron din younger. Kasi kamukha niyan, kami nga, sabi ko nga sa’yo, I’m a urologist, we’re experts in urine. So, with regards to UTI, it’s because of urinary tract infection.
Now, yung mga female patients naman kasi, kaya naman prone sila ng UTI. Kasi ma-exceed yung labasan ng ihi nila eh. Diba?
Dr. Vizmonte: Urethra. Now, prone na magkaroon ng UTI kapag nako-contaminate yung vaginal area, yung urethral area. Kasi, ang number one cause ng UTI is yung E.coli.
It’s a kind of bacteria found in the fecal material. So, ina-advise natin yung mga kababaihan, once they wash their rectal area, dapat hindi tumatalsik dun sa vaginal area.
Kasi, nagiging pathogenic yung E-coli dun sa urinary tract system.
Philippe: And, ba’t ganun? People think, ah, kasi laging maalit yung kinakain. Laging ang daming sawsawan. They think that’s the main cause.
Yun pala, it’s from E -coli talaga, not from the fluid itself.
Dr. Vizmonte: Yung sa UTI? Maraming factors. With regards to female patients, yun nga, dapat yung rectal washing nila. Dapat hindi tatalsik sa vaginal area, number one.
And number two, syempre, with regards to UTI, hindi magpipigil ng ihi. At sa number three, yung sinasabi mong dahil kumakain ng maalat or what. Actually, it’s not dahil kumakain ng maalat or what.
Dr. Vizmonte: Kasi, kapag kumain ka ng maalat, prone ka to stone formation naman.
Philippe: Sa kidneys?
Dr. Vizmonte: Sa kidneys, ureter bladder, sa urinary tract system. Once you have stone formation, mas kinakapitan ng urinary tract infection naman yun.
Philippe: Wow. Wow. So many factors. Doc, what is the most strangest case that you have?
Or the most interesting case that you have in your span of two decades?
Dr. Vizmonte: Interesting? Actually, sa totoo lang, bangkanta yun ng B52s.
Surprise! It’s always a surprise.
Kasi, sabi nga nila eh, sinabi nga nung tito ko na actually, he’s a surgeon also. No operation is the same. Parating everything is different.
Dr. Vizmonte: Parating kakaiba. Parating ka nalang maso-surprise. Kaya nga, with regards to surgeons, actually, a urologist is a surgeon also.
You have to know how to adapt with the situation. Alam mo yung gagawin. Kunwari, ganito nakita mo.
Dr. Vizmonte: You have to know how to adapt with the situation. Alam mo yung gagawin. Kunwari, ganito nakita mo.
Philippe: Talaga? Give us an example. Like, ano ba yung strange? Parang…
Dr. Vizmonte: Hindi, kasi with regards to… Kaming mga urologists, we’re experts in the urinary tract system. Minsan, magkakaroon ng cancer ang kidneys.
So, we have to remove the cancer of the kidneys. Eh, with regards to cancer, nagiging magulo minsan yung anatomy ng katawan. Kasi, once you operate, dapat alam mo yung mga structures.
Dr. Vizmonte: Minsan, mabibigla ka, hindi mo ma-identify yung structures. So, eh, syempre, you have to be safe during operation. So, kinakailangan maingat ka or what.
Kumbaga, kailangan marunong kang mag-adapt. Kasi, every operation is usually a surprise.
Philippe: Interesting.
Dr. Vizmonte: Kasa ka, syempre, may prayers yan during operation. There’s divine intervention dapat. Sa totoo lang kasama yun.
Philippe: And, I heard a lot of doctors are not really spiritual, religious. They’re really into their craft lang. Does in your case, does being hindi naman sya spiritual, no? When you do prayers and all that. But, does it help you?
Dr. Vizmonte: Oo. Kasi, ano eh, it’s a form of humility. Diba? Kung masyadong, kunwari mag-opera ka, ay, ang galing ko, ganyan-ganyan.
Nagiging parang hindi ka maingat. So, kinakailangan, mayroon pa rin faith and guidance pa rin. Totoo lang.
Philippe: That’s good to know. Good to know a doctor with faith behind him. Doc, maiba naman tayo.
Thank you for all the information. It’s very…
Dr. Vizmonte: Hindi, mga basic yan eh. Kasi, actually, mas ma, ano eh, mas maganda kasing aware yung mga tao. Kasi, yung kumbaga, i-fix mo yung isang bagay na hindi pa sya malala. Kaya pa syang maayos.
Like, with regards to prostate cancer, we could eradicate the prostate cancer once it’s in an early stage. Pero kung kunwari, malala na sya, although hindi naman kailangan mag-panic, we could still control it, no?
Dr. Vizmonte: Kaya lang mas mahal ng mga gamot sa pag-control ng prostate cancer in the long run.
Philippe: I see. Actually, Doc, if you’re telling me yan yung basics, yan yung fundamentals, I wasn’t even aware of that. Yung mga tinuro mo ngayon.
And if I wasn’t aware of that, how about yung mga… the whole population itself? I know, I know, I’ve been around, especially sa mga rural areas, they’re not aware of what a prostate is.
Philippe: They don’t know. Yung mga taga-bukid, you think they even know na ah, kailangan mong check 40 years old. Ngayon ko lang nalaman na left and right pala sya. I thought it was just one big walnut.
Dr. Vizmonte: Hindi, it’s one big walnut actually.
Philippe: Ah, one big walnut.
Dr. Vizmonte: Kaya lang yung kanina pinakita ko, isa cross-section.
Philippe: I see.
Dr. Vizmonte: Para lang mademonstrate ko kung paano naku-compress yung urethra, yung baba ng balloon.
Philippe: That’s quite interesting. Yung nga, going back, not a lot of people were educated. Recently, it was only recent, na parang, oh, kailangan kong papacheck.
So, oh, and for women kasi, di ba ang kadalasan for women, kailang mammogram daw, di ba, para check kung may potential. Not everyone’s aware. Ano yung mammogram? Mamo-ano? Mammogram for ano?
Dr. Vizmonte: For breast cancer. Pagka may nodule naman sa breast. Actually, parehas eh. Parang yun yung kaparehas sa lalaki. Sa babae naman, siyempre, kailangan you have to do breast exam kasi they could eradicate breast cancer kung early rin ang stage.
Kasi maraming ang breast cancer survivor. At the same time, maraming rin prostate cancer survivor.
Philippe: It’s good to know that we have these simple fundamentals in the beginning. Kasi, for example, sister ko, yung ati mo, she never went through a mammogram.
What’s a mammogram? She told me that. Ha? Di mo alam?
Philippe: Sabi ko, mas madami kang kaibigan na doctor. Sabi ko, it’s not about that. I think it’s general knowledge.
Which I think, we need to spread more awareness for that. Importante eh. Actually, the only time that people were aware of certain diseases was during COVID.
Philippe: Dun lang sila naging aware of everything. Ah, dapat malini si kabay ko. Dapat mag-ugas. Dapat mag-sanitize. Pero after the pandemic, back to normal. Back to normal.
Dr. Vizmonte: Oo nga.
