Closing the Gap: DOH works towards a
cancer-free Central Luzon
By : Marie Joy Carbungco February 12, 2024
Cancer, in all its forms, has been the second leading cause of death in Central Luzon from
2019 to 2022 based on the Field Health Service Information System data of the Department
of Health (DOH).
With this, DOH calls on the public’s attention on the threats that cancer poses not only
among individuals and their families but also to communities.
Understanding the Science behind the Dreaded C
DOH Central Luzon Center for Health Development (CLCHD) Non-communicable Diseases
Cluster Senior Health Program Officer Agnes Alipio explained that cancer is a medical
condition caused when the body’s cells grow and divide out of control, which may
potentially spread to other organs of the body.
“When these cells overproduce, they can form a mass called a tumor. The tumor can be
benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). When the tumor is malignant, it can
grow and spread to other parts of the body. Meanwhile, there are other types of cancer
that do not develop tumors, such as leukemia,” she said.
In the Philippines, the leading cause of cancer-related mortality is breast cancer followed
by lung, colon, and liver.
Worldwide, cancer is a leading cause of death that accounts for nearly 10 million deaths in
2020 or nearly one in six deaths, according to the World Health Organization.
“Age, unhealthy lifestyle, genetics, and other environmental toxins may increase the risk
of developing cancers,” Alipio said.
DOH also warned the public to look out for the signs and symptoms of cancer which include
changes in bladder/bowel habits, sores that do not heal, unusual bleeding or discharge,
thickening or lump in breast or elsewhere, indigestion or difficulty in swallowing, obvious
changes in warts or moles, nagging cough or persistent hoarseness, unexplained weight
loss, and pernicious anemia.
Department of Health Central Luzon Center for Health Development Non-communicable Diseases Cluster
Senior Health Program Officer Agnes Alipio discusses the anatomy, risk factors, and symptoms to watch out
for in terms of developing cancer. (Marie Joy S. Carbungco/PIA 3)
The Burden of Cancer
Aside from the alarming figures that make cancer a serious global health threat, what
makes it worse is that cancer is tied to many other diseases.
“When we talk of cancer, we have the primary cancer which is the main site of the tumor
and the metastatic cancers or those that spread to other organs or part of the body,”
Alipio said.
Aside from the physical burden that the disease causes on the patient because of various
medications and treatments, it also causes emotional stress on the patients and their loved
ones.
Pain is always associated with cancer because approximately one-fourth of newly
diagnosed cancer patients experience some degree of pain, as do one-third of patients
undergoing cancer treatment, and three-quarters of patients with advanced disease.
DOH said that cancer also has significant economic costs and impacts heavily on the
families’ resources. Many of those who are diagnosed with the disease lose the opportunity
to work as the disease progresses. It also sometimes prevents other family members from
continuing working, as patients have to be taken care of, thus resulting in loss of income
and even any savings they may have due to the overwhelming cost of medical treatment.
Top officials of the provincial government of Pampanga meet with children diagnosed with cancer to offer
financial assistance to somehow ease their burden in terms of medication and treatment cost. (Pampanga
PIO)
Closing the gap
Despite these, DOH reassures that cancer is preventable. Health authorities suggest that
individuals maintain a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables, limit consumption of red
and processed meats, avoid tobacco smoking and vaping, limit alcohol intake, and engage
in regular physical activity to reduce the risks associated with developing cancer.
In fact, Alipio said that this year’s World Cancer Day theme “Close the Care Gap”,
highlights the disparities in access to cancer care that exist around the world.
“The goal is to ensure that everyone, regardless of where they live or their socioeconomic
status, has access to quality cancer prevention, screening, treatment, and palliative
care,” she stressed.
One of DOH CLCHD’s efforts is the conduct of capacity development activities like seminars
and workshops for local government unit (LGU) health workers to provide them with the
proper knowledge regarding the disease, its risks, and symptoms.
“Because we are teaching our health workers, our goal is to be able to screen early. They
should be able to determine what to look out for and what to do so that patients can be
diagnosed early,” she said.
Alipio also shared that they also establish the referral pathway so that health workers
know where and how to refer patients suspected of having cancer in order to guide them
where to receive the right services from the government.
“We also encourage our LGUs to establish clubs like the hypertension and cancer club so
that these people can help each other to encourage other people to adopt a healthy
lifestyle,” Alipio added.
DOH also has the Cancer Supportive Care and Palliative Care Medicine Access Program
(CSPMAP) which aims to provide free medicines to identified priority sets of cancer types
that are not yet fully covered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation to avoid or
minimize out of pocket costs among the target population.
In Central Luzon, the three CSPMAP access sites are Jose B. Lingad Memorial General
Hospital in the City of San Fernando, Bataan General Hospital and Medical Center in
Balanga City, and Dr. Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Research and Medical Center in
Cabanatuan City.
Assistance can likewise be provided by DOH CLCHD to qualified cancer patients through
the Malasakit program and Medical Assistance for Indigent Patients. (CLJD/MJSC-PIA 3)
In other News
