Health officials in Piura, Peru, conducted free cancer screenings at the Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre Health Center, aiming to improve early diagnosis rates across the region. The screenings, carried out by the Piura Regional Health Directorate (Diresa), focused on detecting prostate, cervical, skin, breast, colon, and rectal cancers.
The initiative included educational sessions and preventative recommendations, with health professionals urging residents to seek timely diagnoses at their nearest health facility. Diresa Piura launched a broader “Unamos Lazos” (Unite Ribbons) Week of the Fight Against Cancer in October 2022, according to a government press release, with the goal of educating the population on preventative measures and healthy lifestyles.
According to Diresa, cancer is the second leading cause of death nationally, and Piura reflects this trend. Breast and cervical cancers are most frequently diagnosed in women, while prostate and stomach cancers are prevalent among men. Other common cancers in the region include colorectal, thyroid, lung, and lymphoma.
Data released by Diresa indicates 111 deaths attributed to prostate cancer were recorded regionally in 2021, decreasing to 74 in 2022. Breast cancer deaths fell from 76 in 2021 to 47 in 2022. In 2022, health officials identified 204 cases of malignant breast tumors, 88 cases of prostate cancer, 46 cases of ovarian cancer, 42 cases of cervical cancer, 35 cases of endocervical cancer, and 23 cases of stomach cancer, among others.
The Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre Health Center, a Level I-3 facility, currently houses the oncology service of the Amistad Perú – Corea Santa Rosa II-2 Hospital, where dozens of patients receive chemotherapy treatment. Diresa Piura has been working to equip specialized services at the Santa Rosa Hospital to meet increasing demand for oncological care, according to a recent Facebook post. The health center can be reached at 073-301221.
