World unites against ‘Big C’
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. graces the inauguration of the Healthway Cancer Care Hospital recently in Taguig City. The HCCH is the first comprehensive cancer specialty hospital in the country, where end-to-end oncology services can be accessed in one facility.
PPA POOL
World Cancer Day, observed annually on February 4th, serves as a global platform to raise awareness, encourage prevention, and promote early detection and treatment of cancer.
In the Philippines, like in many countries, the battle against cancer is urgent, and tackling the challenge head-on.
An initiative founded by the Union for International Cancer Control to unite the world against cancer, World Cancer Day aims to reduce the global impact of the scourge by fostering awareness, encouraging education, and promoting actions at individual, community, and government levels. The day serves as a reminder that cancer is a global health crisis, and collaborative efforts are essential to combat its various forms.
Filipino supporters join the ‘walk as one’ for breast cancer in Manila on 8 November 2009. The event is part of a worldwide campaign dubbed ‘Kiss Goodbye to Breast Cancer’ to help raise financial support for poor victims and raise awareness to the public.
JAY DIRECTO/AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
The Philippines has seen a notable surge in cancer cases, adding strain to its healthcare system. Lung, breast, liver, colorectal and cervical cancers are prevalent and influenced by lifestyle, environment, and limited healthcare access. With cancer ranking among the top causes of death, over 150,000 new diagnoses and 90,000 deaths were recorded in 2020. In response, the National Integrated Cancer Control Act was enacted in February 2019, aiming to establish national and regional cancer centers.
Artist Janet Ballacer gladly shares the oil pastels with a young cancer patient during a unique event of the Manila Clock Tower Museum dubbed ‘Art Therapy for Kids Battling Cancer’ at the museum in Manila City Hall. This event provided art therapy to at least 30 pediatric cancer patients from Philippine General Hospital and National Children’s Hospital.
