Rhodora ‘Yenyen” Humiwat-Abluyen, a 51-year-old woodcarver from barangay Asin, here, graduated from her 8-cycle chemotherapy treatment last July 11, 2023 after being diagnosed for Stage 4 breast cancer in October 2022.
She narrated that she learned about a free breast screening that had been undertaken last October for her to seek advise on the noticeable lumps in her breast.
“I was surprised to learn that I had already Stage 4 breast cancer and I was recommended to undergo 8 cycles of chemotherapy,” she said.
The 51-year-old woodcarver, underscored that she did not lose hope of being treated from breast cancer despite her illness on the advanced stage until she graduated from the treatment and is now under surveillance undergoing various bone and hormonal treatments and medications to totally remove the cancer cells.
On the other hand, Eliseo Balariz, Jr., 67, from Villasis, Pangasinan and presently residing at Bakakeng Norte/Sur, here, also a breast cancer survivor, described his journey as difficult and taxing because of the need to hurdle various challenges, especially that she had to be treated at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic where the community quarantine restrictions were very strict.
He disclosed that he was elbowed by a fellow basketball player during a game in 2018 and that there was a huge lump that suddenly developed in his breast.
“I was advised to seek medical attention when the lump in my breast got bigger and harder and to my surprise, I was diagnosed for Stage 3 cancer. It was very difficult to get treatment at that time because of the stringent community quarantine restrictions that were being implemented” he added.
He was able to recover after undergoing a 6-cycle chemotherapy and is now one of the strong advocates of early detection and screening as well as diagnosis and treatment for individuals who are experiencing unusual state of their breasts for them to be able to be given the appropriate treatment to prevent their situation from worsening in the future.
Both breast cancer patients experienced the difficulties of the traditional chemotherapy, radiation among other treatments but they persevered to be treated to live longer lives even after being diagnosed for advance state of the illness.
In the city, there are some 5 male breast cancer patients and survivors but it is only Balariz that is willing to come out in the open to share his experience to serve as an inspiration a motivation for others to seek early screening and detection for their illnesses for them to bed properly diagnosed.
The manufacture of modern medicines and the development of targeted treatment for breast cancer patients has been part of the advancement of the pharmaceutical and medical research to help ease the burden of patients, their families and their caregivers from the difficult process of recovering from the said curable illness.
Though some latest breast cancer patients were able to avail of the modern medicines and the targeted treatment that allowed them to easily recover from their illness, the access and availability of the same in health facilities around the country remains a problem that is why women who discover that they have breast cancer have to make do with the traditional way of treatment such as chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, biopsy among others.
Aside from the inability of breast cancer patients to access the available modern medicines and targeted treatment, the rather inadequate awareness of the people on the available information to detect breast cancer at an early stage is also contributory to the increasing number of patients having the illness that are traditionally treated in the various public and private health facilities in the different parts of the Cordillera.
Dr. Jennifer Joyce Pira, medical officer IV of the Cordillera office of the Department of Health (DOH-CAR) said that the prevalence of breast cancer in the region is not that high but one of the major challenges confronting the agency is the absence of a dis-aggregated data specifically on breast cancer since the morbidity and mortality due to cancer are lumped together.
“We will be able to come out with a definite conclusion on the prevalence of breast cancer in the region if we will be able to dis-aggregate the data on cancer so that people will be able to appreciate the data that will be presented,” Pira said.
Based on the available data from the DOH-CAR statistics section, there were 21 individuals who died of breast cancer where 20 of them were females and 1 was a male. In 2021, there were 65 fatalities due to breast cancer where 61 of them were females and 4 were males. In the said data, Benguet, including Baguio city had the highest number of breast cancer-related deaths with 28 where 1 was a male followed by Abra with 16 where 2 were males, Ifugao 13 where 1 was a male, and Apayao and Mountain Province with 4 females each.
However, Pira explained that those who died of breast cancer in 2021 does not reflect that they contracted the illness on the said year as they might have gotten the same earlier although they died on the said year.
She pointed out that individuals seeking consultation on breast cancer often are on the late stages of their illness because of the alleged lack of awareness on the information on the early detection of breast cancer that is why the health department is conducting a series of trainings to the barangay health workers and the personnel of the rural health units to intensify the agency’s advocacy on breast cancer to empower women to seek early screening once they experience weird or unusual state of their breasts.
“Screening and counselling are available in our rural health units while treatment is available in our referral hospital which happens to be the Baguio General Hospital. Apart from self-screening on the status of their breasts, people should learn to seek assistance from the nearest rural health unit so that they will be given the initial advise on what to do,” the medical officer stressed.
Pira claimed that some modern medicines are part of the standard treatment being provided by health facilities to the breast cancer patients, but the agency has yet to dis-aggregate whether the said medicines are for breast cancer or other forms of cancer because the same is still umped with cancer medicines although there are ongoing efforts to classify the various type of cancer medicines to conform with the specific illness that it is prescribed to treat.
According to her, modern medicines are being used as part of the standard treatment for breast cancer patients because it reportedly contributes in lessening the side effects such as wight loss, hair loss, gastric effects among others to allow patients to complete their chemotherapy until the cancer cell will be totally gone as there are patients who no longer want to pursue their treatment due to the intolerable side effects of their breast cancer treatment.
Pira advised individuals to always seek early screening when experiencing unusual stare of their breasts so that they will also be provided with early diagnosis and treatment for them to be able to easily recover from their illness instead of discovering their situation already too late that could lead to their untimely demise.
“Breast cancer is curable provided that it is detected and treated early that is why people should be fully aware that contracting breast cancer will not cause one’s death if given the appropriate treatment,” she said.
Further, the medical officer urged the public not to allow their breasts to be traumatize and for them to observe a healthy lifestyle by eating a balanced diet and taking their multi-vitamins and practice a healthy spiritual life to spare them from contracting the said illness.
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women in the Philippines, with the highest incidence rate of 17.6%, accounting for 15% of all new cancer cases and 8% of all cancer deaths in the country. Three out of 100 Filipino women are estimated to develop breast cancer before the age of 75. The Philippines had the highest prevalence of breast cancer among 197 countries in 2017. More than half (53%) of breast cancers in the country are diagnosed in Stages III and IV, while only 2%–3% of cases are diagnosed in Stage I.
Up to one-third of patients with early-stage breast cancer will subsequently develop metastatic disease. Metastatic breast cancer is the most serious form of the disease and occurs when the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, such as the brain, bones or liver. Advanced breast cancer comprises metastatic breast cancer (stage 4) and locally advanced breast cancer (stage 3). Survival rates for women living with advanced breast cancer are lower than those for women with earlier-stage disease. The 5-year relative survival rate for stage 3 breast cancer is approximately 72% compared to around 22% for stage 4 breast cancer. Despite improvements in breast cancer care, many patients still lack targeted therapeutic options outside of the standard chemotherapy and endocrine therapy to reduce the risk of recurrence.
Breast cancer is no longer a death sentence, and breast cancer survivorship has come a long way in recent years. Innovative treatments offering women a greater chance than ever before to live healthy, fulfilling lives following their diagnosis. This approach has not only improved survival rates, but it has also led to an increased focus on quality of life for breast cancer survivors. By reducing side effects and other complications, innovative treatments (such as targeted therapy) have given women the opportunity to reclaim their lives after treatment, returning to work, family, and other activities with greater confidence and energy. The healthcare framework is also shifting to prioritize early detection and comprehensive patient care.
For her part, Dr. Anne Claire Pekas, Provincial Health Officer of Mountain Province, admitted that there is no baseline data on breast cancer patients and survivors in the province that is why she plans to roll out an aggressive program that will help in establishing the data on breast cancer patients from the province’s ten municipalities.
“We have to use the available tools for us to be able to establish a baseline data and repository of data on other illnesses in the province so that our policy makers and decision makers will be guided on what programs and projects to implement to address such concerns<” Dr. Pekas stressed.
The provincial health officer stipulated that breast cancer patients only seek health advise when their situation is already on the advanced stage that is why they are always referred to the Baguio general Hospital for treatment and for other interventions, thus, the need to put things in their proper perspective to be able to deal with the situations that will arise in the future.
A prestigious foundation empowered breast cancer patients and survivors with the recent launch of the breast cancer manual entitled ‘You Can Do This’ which is a comprehensive resource designed to support patients, survivors and their caregivers on their journey to wellness.
Available as free downloadable in English and Filipino on the website of ICanServe Foundation, the breast cancer manual was recently launched in the city to empower women to be aware of the initial symptoms of breast cancer for them to be able to immediately available of t6he available health care services such as modern and targeted treatment for them to recover from the said illness.
“I believe that a breast cancer manual should be a must have for any woman seeking accurate and accessible information about managing breast cancer today. Nobody wants to talk about it, but everyone needs to be informed. This manual will be a very helpful guide. This manual is similar to the guidebook that got me through my cancer journey eighteen years ago,” Marivic Bugasto, president of Minda’s Buddies and an ICanServe partner.
“Having access to the right information when facing cancer is like a compass in a storm. It guides us towards informatized decisions, empowers us with knowledge, and ignites a spark of hope in our hearts,” shared Abby de Leon, ICanServe volunteer, professional image consultant, who graced the cover of the manual.
Earlier, The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that some 27,163 women were diagnosed with breast cancer in the country in 2020, making it the most common cancer in t6he archipelago.
Further, 70 percent of women are diagnosed of advance stages, underscoring the need for early detection.
The manual offers practical knowledge and advise and shares heartfelt stories from breast cancer survivors to help patients, survivors and caregivers access essential information through their cancer journey.
City Health Services officer-in-charge Dr. Celiaflor Brillantes said that there are many reasons why the manual is important as the internet is over filled with information these days, however, the information there may not fit the specific needs of Filipinas, thus, a breast cancer manual specific to the Philippine setting will offer re-assuring and realistic information for women diagnosed with breast cancer in the country.
She expressed hope that the manual will provide more well-rounded information adapting to the unique Filipino culture.
“As a long time survivor, many newly diagnosed women or their loved ones come to me for advise. While I try my best, my answers tend to be insufficient, vague, or scattered. With this manual, I am able to give sound advise even for questions they haven’t asked in a more organized manner,” ICanServe president Nikoy de Guzman.
“I hope this manual sends the message that cancer is not a death sentence. Many things can be done to ease the burden of cancer diagnosis. No one is alone in her fight,” she added.
The manual combines information gleaned from studies and established sources such as the American Cancer Society, as well as personal anecdotes to serve as a source of information and encouragement for breast cancer patients, survivors and their caregivers. It covers a wide range of topics from the medical, understanding treatment options, managing side effects, to the personal, how to tell their families and friends to the practical financing cancer treatment.
“Written by breast cancer survivors and with inputs from experts in various fields, from psychiatry to palliative care, the updated manual is written in layman’s terms to help patients as well as their families and support groups at different stages on the journey to wellness. It’s a solid, valuable reminder that no breast cancer survivor is ever completely alone in this experience,” Alya Honasan, ICanServe volunteer, journalist, artist, book author, yoga instructor, and the manual’s editor, shared.
Crisann Celdran, co-founder and chairman of the Board of Trustees of the ICanServe foundation, emphasized that the manual is a love letter from survivors to other survivors and their caregiver and families and one she wishes she had access to back them.
Dr. Corazon Ngilangil of the National Integrated Cancer Control Council and Philippine Cancer Society expressed support to the production of the manual, saying that the said manual empowers women to take charge of their well-being through self-education, self-assessment, and self-reliance; equipping them with insights on getting the right treatment at the right time.
What sets apart the ICanServe patient manual ‘You Can Do This’ is that it is Philippine and patient-centered. To date, there are gaps in information for the rich, the middle class and the poor. Patients often feel side effects or symptoms that are unacknowledged and unaddressed.
“We want patients, carers, caregivers and health providers to form a circle of support for patients and to fully share in the journey beginning with accurate information and acknowledging nuance experience of breast cancer patients. This circle of support equals hopes the one thing you should never take away from a patient,” Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala, founding president of ICanServe foundation and vice president for internal affairs, Cancer Collation Philippines.
ICanServe foundation was founded in 1999 to provide information and a circle of support for women diagnosed with breast cancer. From a support group working to empower women with accurate information on breast cancer, the foundation has evolved and expanded its advocacy to promote breast cancer control programs on the national and local levels. As a founding member of Cancer Coalition Philippines, ICanServe was instrument in t6he passage of the National Integrated Cancer Control Act in 2019, the first legislation of its kind in Southeast Asia. The foundation continues to advocate for the full implementation of the law to ensur4e that no cancer patients get left behind.
Note: This article is published with the assistance of the Philippine Press Institute (PPI), Novartis and ICanServe foundation.