Philippines roadmap for cancer control out soon

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine roadmap for cancer control is coming out soon.

Mae Concepcion Dolendo of the National Integrated Cancer Control Act Council reported on Wednesday that the NICCA committee would be coming out with a strategic framework for cancer control.

“The council was put together to look into the implementation of the (NICCA) and provide policies that are favorable to cancer patients,” Dolendo said during a forum conducted by the Department of Health (DOH).

“We are able to come up with a roadmap, a strategic framework for the next five years, which we are going to present next week,” she said.

Dolendo said the NICCA took effect five years ago, but the pandemic delayed its full implementation.

She said there were improvements in efforts to control cancer among Filipinos.

At this time, she said, there are 35 designated cancer control centers nationwide.

“Before, people had to fly to Manila to get treatment. Now they can be treated in designated cancer centers across regions,” Dolendo said.

At the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum on Wednesday, oncologist Manuel Francisco Roxas said that cancer is the third leading cause of death among Filipinos.

Roxas said cancer cases among Filipinos are projected to rise due to the country’s aging population.

He said the risk of getting cancer increases as one gets older, although a person can still live longer even after being diagnosed with cancer.

Early diagnosis, Roxas said, is the key to higher survival among cancer patients.

He said Health Secretary Ted Herbosa informed him that the government is planning to implement a program promoting cancer screening.

“The health chief said the DOH should spend more on cancer screening and prevention than providing chemotherapy to patients who have been diagnosed with the late stage of the disease,” Roxas said.

Meanwhile, in observance of World Cancer Awareness this month, the cancer commission of the Philippine College of Surgeons (PCS) has organized a fun run and a cancer summit.

The fun run will be held tomorrow, and the summit from Feb. 29 to March 1.

Roxas and Tefel Pesigan-Valentino, chairman and executive director of the PCS cancer commission, respectiely,