Cancer is an increasingly pressing issue in the Philippines, with new cases emerging at an alarming rate of 400 per day. The disease is now the third leading cause of death in the country, with 250 Filipinos losing their lives to cancer every day, leaving behind 11 grieving families every hour. Lung cancer tops the list of cancer-related deaths, followed by breast and liver cancer. Addressing the urgent needs of people with cancer requires supportive leadership and innovative approaches.
In response to this growing need, MSD in the Philippines’ Hope From Within cancer advocacy campaign hosts a media forum titled “Making Cancer Care Innovation Accessible to Every Juan“. This event hosted by broadcast journalist and health advocate Nina Corpuz, brings together local and foreign health experts, cancer patients, and health champions to discuss how cancer innovations and resource-appropriate interventions can help close the cancer care gaps in the country.
The forum also puts into spotlight how the proper implementation and funding of the National Integrated Cancer Control Act can help improve access to earlier diagnosis and more efficient treatment to improve patient outcomes and survivorship.
With this forum, Hope From Within hopes to create a platform for open dialogue and collaboration among key stakeholders in the fight against cancer, working towards a future where every Filipino can access the best possible care.
Spotlight on three cancer types – lung, TNBC, head and neck
Local and foreign medical experts discuss leading cancer types such as lung, triple-negative breast cancer, head and neck.
According to Global Cancer Statistics 2020, lung cancer is the most common cancer worldwide, affecting 2.2 million people in 2020. Furthermore, lung cancer is the 2nd leading cancer site and leading cause of mortality among all types of cancer in the Philippines.
The Philippines has a high incidence of tobacco smoking, with almost a quarter of its population aged 15 years and above engaging in the habit, putting millions at risk for lung cancer. Recent studies from Asia have also shown that environmental risk factors such as exposure to secondhand smoke and high levels of air pollution, as well as occupational exposures and comorbid lung diseases, can contribute to lung cancer in non-smokers.
Lung cancer can be classified into two types, small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer, with the latter being the most common, accounting for over 80% of cases. Other risk factors that may increase the chances of getting lung cancer include exposure to substances found at workplaces like asbestos, arsenic, diesel exhaust, and some forms of silica and chromium. Also, family history, radiation therapy to the chest, diet, and lifestyle may also contribute to acquiring the disease.
Meanwhile, head and neck cancers affect the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, and salivary glands. It is the seventh most common cancer in the world, with 1.1 million new diagnoses annually. In the Philippines, there are approximately 7,000 new cases of head and neck cancer each year.
The disease can cause significant physical and emotional impacts on individuals and their families, including difficulty swallowing, speaking, breathing, pain, disfigurement, anxiety, depression, reduced quality of life, and social isolation. Tobacco and alcohol use are the two primary risk factors for head and neck cancer, and the prognosis can be affected by the amount of tobacco used.
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) on the other hand is a subtype of breast cancer that does not have estrogen, progesterone, or HER2 receptors. TNBC is more common in younger women and women with a BRCA1 mutation. TNBC grows and spreads faster, has fewer treatment options, and tends to have a worse prognosis than other types of invasive breast cancer.
Fortunately, being diagnosed with cancer is no longer a death sentence. There are treatment options available to help patients fight the disease, including surgery, radiation therapy, and innovative therapies such as immunotherapy and targeted therapy. With the right treatment plan, cancer patients can hope to beat the disease and live healthy, fulfilling lives. The challenge now is to these cancer innovations available and accessible to every Filipino patient.
A call for solidarity against cancer
The National Integrated Cancer Control Act or NICCA, enacted in 2019, aims to improve cancer prevention, survivorship, and access to cancer care for Filipinos. Its goal is to make cancer services and care accessible to all by institutionalizing interdisciplinary care and promoting an equity-based, whole-of-government approach.
To ensure that said landmark health legislation is properly implemented and adequately funded, a Call for Solidarity against Cancer was drafted by patient groups and cancer advocates to appeal to the government to increase funding and progressively implement the provisions of the NICCA, “mindful of the need to act with urgency, because cancer does not wait.” Cancer patients need timely support and interventions if they are to beat cancer and have healthier, more productive, and brighter futures.The solidarity statement also highlights the need to intensify and expand public and private collaboration in cancer care. Ultimately, cancer patients, survivors, their families, as well as cancer advocate groups, are also called to augment conversations on cancer care, treatment, and life after cancer.
