In medicine, stoma is a surgically made opening in the abdominal wall. And stomates are the persons who have a stoma. Usually, they would have a belt and bag contraption around their waste to care for their stoma. You may also see these words being spelled as ostoma and ostomates. Stomas can be temporary or permanent. But surgeons create stoma as a life-saving or life maintaining method to allow the outflow and inflow of substances to and from the intestines, bladder or lungs.

Last week, the Philippines hosted the 4th Asian Ostomy Association Conference at the Century Park Hotel in Manila. The conference highlighted the various psycho-social problems confronting stomates and how people with stoma can better be empowered to be productive and functional. Aside from discussing the advances in stoma care and management, the conference also placed importance on the multidisciplinary and teamwork approach with stomates.

In the Philippines, the most common causes of stomas are cancers of the colon, rectum and bladder. Colon cancer is the sixth most common site of cancer among Filipinos with nearly 3,000 new cases found yearly with another 3,000 cases of rectal and bladder cancer. Cancer of the colon and rectum has been linked to high fat diets and diets rich in red meat. So if a member of your family, whether near or distant, has colon or rectal cancer, you are advised to keep yourself in peaceful harmony with people and the environment. Go to places that are relatively secure and safe. Ride a vehicle always with a seat belt; avoid alcohol while driving and keep cool despite the heavy traffic.

The real key is prevention. However, government and society as a whole has not invested enough in the prevention of diseases and the promotion of health. I give my salute to the untiring efforts of the Philippine Cancer Society and the Occupational Safety and Health Center. But more action and funds are needed to match or double the efforts in the curative field.

Aside from prevention, I am writing about stoma and stomates, mainly to highlight the need to society for care and compassion towards stomates. While preventive measures may be on their way, there would still be a growing pool of stomates amidst us. We need to be aware that stomates are continuously adjusting and learning in their new lifestyle. We need to give them encouragement to move them out of their fear, anxiety or depression in returning to the rudiments of daily living.

For families and relatives of stomates, they are encouraged to give more support and understanding. They do need to continue with their social life and occupations.

For care givers and health professionals, there should be greater effort to expand ostomy clinics not only in hospitals but also in polyclinics and ambulatory care clinics. Greater concerns can be placed on how to increase access of stomates to care near their workplace and residence. There is a need to tie up with Filipino business community to manufacture our own ostomy contraptions.

Ostomates themselves should become more active in organizing themselves by creating local chapters of the Ostomy Association of the Philippines and joining the activities of the Philippine Stoma Association and the Stoma Care Association. I would like to congratulate Dr. Reynaldo Joson of the Ospital ng Maynila, Dr. Ernesto C. Tan of Cardinal Santos Medical Center and Dr. Romeo Gutierrez of UP-PGH for their leadership and unwavering support for the advancement of ostomy care in the Philippines. Cheers!

Dr. Jaime Z. Galvez Tan M.D., M.P.H. is currently professor of the University of the Philippines College of Medicine Department of Family and Community Medicine. He is also the special assistant to the U.P. Manila Chancellor on External Linkages. Dr. Galvez Tan is president of the Health Futures Foundation Inc. He holds clinic every Tuesday and Thursday at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) Traditional and Integrative Medicine Clinic with telephone number 521-8450 local 3953 and 3170. Do drop a line, say hello, ask a question or give a comment by e-mail:jzgalveztan@hotmail.com or write a letter to Manila Bulletin, Health & Science section at Health Futures, P.O. Box 13, UP Diliman, QC.