MDH champions informed breast cancer care

Manila Doctors Hospital (MDH) is promoting a more informed approach to breast cancer care, urging patients to better understand their diagnosis, explore treatment options and take an active role in decisions throughout their cancer journey.

During its Breast Cancer Awareness Month celebration, themed “Knowledge is Power,” MDH specialists emphasized that access to reliable information, coupled with early detection and open discussions with doctors, can help patients navigate increasingly varied approaches to cancer screening and treatment.

Dr. Antonio Villanon, a pioneer of medical oncology in the Philippines, stressed that patients should not hesitate to ask questions about their diagnosis and the options available to them.

“Knowledge is power. Education is for all. We should know what needs to be done,” Villanon said.

He encouraged patients to ask questions when presented with a treatment plan, noting that cancer care can involve different approaches, including surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy and newer personalized treatments.

“There should always be options for treatment. There should be choices,” he stressed.

Villanon also urged patients not to immediately give up on treatment when they experience side effects, saying doctors may be able to adjust doses or change medications depending on the patient’s condition.

“The important thing is to continue your treatment for as long as you can, because what is important is for you to get better,” he said.

Medical oncologist Dr. Florge Francis Sy, meanwhile, underscored the importance of detecting breast cancer even before symptoms appear.

Breast cancer screening, he explained, allows doctors to look for the disease even when a patient has no noticeable lump or changes in the breast.

“When we talk about breast cancer screening, the best screening modality is mammography,” Sy said.