80% of breast cancer patients in PH have accessibility issues — PCS

The Philippines needs to improve its early screening for breast cancer, as up to 80% of breast cancer patients have accessibility issues, according to the Philippine Cancer Society (PCS).

Speaking to GMA News Online, PCS Oncology Manager Dr. Herdee Luna said these issues include knowing where to obtain financial support and access to affordable, if not free, services such as screening and medication.

She pointed out that the early breast cancer detection rate (Stage 1 and 2) in the Philippines is at 30% in 2020, far below the World Health Organization’s (WHO) target of 60%.

Meanwhile, the early breast cancer detection rate in the United States and South Korea is at 70%, Luna said.

“Breast cancer is one of the screenable cancers. If detected early, Stage 1 to 2, hindi pa kumakalat sa ibang regions, ito po ay madaling magamot,” Luna said at the sidelines of the launching of PCS’s breast and cervical cancer awareness campaign.

(Breast cancer is one of the screenable cancers. If detected early at Stage 1 to 2, before it spreads to other parts of the body, it is easier to treat.)

“In the Philippines, we see patients mas madalas na Stage 3 and 4, mas komplikado, mas malayo na napuntahan ng cancer, at mas malala,” she added.

(In the Philippines, most of the patients we detected are at Stage 3 and 4, where the cancer has spread and in worse condition.)  

Once cancer is detected early, Luna said the chances of a cure can reach 80% to 90%.

Meanwhile, the chance for a five-year survival is 30% or below if a cancer patient is at Stage 3 or 4.

What should PH do?

Unlike the US and South Korea, the Philippines has no organized breast cancer screening yet, Luna said.

“Although meron po tayong provisions po sa ating National Integrated Cancer Control Act, kailangan po pa rin natin mag-act now. Umaksyon ngayon,” Luna said.

(Although the Philippines has a provision in the National Integrated Cancer Control Act, we still need to act now.)

The National Integrated Cancer Control Act created the National Integrated Cancer Control Program, the National Integrated Cancer Control Council, and the Cancer Assistance Fund to provide financial assistance and support to cancer patients.

Luna said a community-based approach is also needed to address early cancer detection in the Philippines, as the country also aims for timely diagnosis and proper treatment navigation.

These efforts include creating ordinances, local government budgets, and information dissemination on available resources for cancer patients.

“Dapat pag nakita na yung simptoma, 60 days, dapat ma-diagnose na yan. Kasama dito sa ating paghanap kung saan yung tamang lugar kung saan magpakonsulta, nasaan yung funding resources. Ilang araw din ang kinakain yan sa pag-apply,” Luna said.

(Once symptoms are detected, a diagnosis should be made within 60 days. This includes finding the right facility for consultation and identifying available funding resources. Sometimes, several days are also spent just to process the requirements for financial assistance.)

Individual approach

In a recent study funded by the Department of Science and Technology, around 1 in 7 Filipino women could be infected with Human Papillomavirus (HPV), a virus that causes cervical cancer.

Luna said HPV can be prevented through vaccinations, which the public can acquire in their respective health centers for free.

As per the 2022 WHO Position on HPV vaccines, the organization recommends the following doses of vaccines:

• One or two-dose schedule for girls aged 9-14
• One or two-dose schedule for girls and women aged 15-20
• Two doses with a 6-month interval for women older than 21

However, Luna said, getting vaccinated is still a challenge in the Philippines because of “fear.”

“Individualized approach yan. It's a cultural thing, it's a belief pero (but) we need to not only tell the science but also accompany them all the way,” Luna said.

“This is a highly difficult issue. We could be saving more lives pero ang deterrent lang talagang barrier natin is the fear (but our only obstacle is fear). So I do not have a straight answer for that (solution), but it's a call to action for most,” she added.

On Thursday, October 2, PCS launched its ACT NOW Accelerating Cervical Cancer Treatment, Immunization & Vaccine Education (ACTIVE) campaign in Quezon City.

The campaign aims to intensify the nationwide efforts against cancers affecting Filipino women.

Breast, colorectal, and cervical cancers are the most common cancers acquired by women in the Philippines, based on the WHO Global Cancer Observatory 2022 data. — LA, GMA Integrated News