00:00Breast cancer remains a major health concern in the Philippines with early detection and access to treatment critical for survival.
00:08Health authorities are expanding screening programs and increasing financial support to help patients receive timely care.
00:15Bien Vini Manalo reports.
00:18Her world seems crushed and she almost lost hope when she was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in 2015.
00:26The doctor gave her only 5 years to leave or even shorter if she didn't seek treatment.
00:32She was working as a restaurant staff at that time so she was even more depressed when she found out she would spend millions of pesos on treatment.
00:40She also regrets that she didn't immediately undergo early detection and screening and instead waited for the situation to get worse.
00:48Noong malaman ko po na may cancer po ako, as in end of the world na po talaga, sabi ko lalaban pa ba ako o susoko na.
00:58Kasi talagang as in noong sinabi ng doktor, you have stage 3 breast cancer, you must prepare 3 million, so blanko ang isip ko.
01:06As in hindi ko alam ano sasabihin ko, nanginginig ang mga tuhod ko.
01:10She battled with the disease for 10 years. She did not give up. She fought to stay alive for her child. She is very thankful to the people, organizations, and groups who helped her.
01:22As a cancer survivor, she serves as an inspiration to other cancer patients to be strong and not lose hope.
01:28Early detection saves life. Kaya lagi ko yung sinasabi sa kanila. Kaya ako pinalakas pa dahil kailangan kong i-inspire yung iba na, tingnan nyo ko, lumalaban po ako.
01:41Blessing talaga sa akin yung nandito ako para masabi ko din sa kapwa ko mga pasyente at sa mga hindi pa nagpapacheck up na, magpacheck up na po kayo.
01:49The Philippine Cancer Society is concerned about the increasing number of women in the country who have breast cancer.
01:55Breast cancer is the most common cancer to Filipinas and to women at large.
02:01According to the PCS, the Philippines has the highest number with the breast cancer in Southeast Asia.
02:07Up to 27,000 cases of breast cancer are recorded every year, or one Filipina in every 32 seconds dies from it.
02:15In 2022, more than 1,000 Filipinos died from breast cancer.
02:20The PCS says 55 to 65 percent of women in the Philippines are diagnosed too late with breast cancer.
02:28Because of this, the group has strengthened its campaign for early detection and screening.
02:33But there's such a thing as AI-assisted ultrasound and mammography screening for breast cancer.
02:42It's assisting this technology to detect more precisely the presence of mass in the breast.
02:53They will further expand their ACNOW or Access to Cancer Treatment Now program.
02:58This features their mobile cancer screening bus that provides free breast and cervical detection services, especially to those in great need.
03:07Today, more than 46,000 women have been serviced by the mobile cancer screening bus for more than 800 outreach missions since it was launched in 2015.
03:17For us, women, Filipinas, na hindi naman po mas madali pong gamutin yan kung maliliit, huwag nyo pong patagalin dahil pwede naman kayo pumunta sa hospital magpatingin para maagapan ka agad.
03:34Because if you really come in very early, your survival, mas mahaba po ang survival.
03:40Meanwhile, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation or PhilHealth has further increased its benefit package for breast cancer.
03:48From the previous 100,000 pesos, it has been increased to 1.4 million pesos, which will be a great help in the treatment of breast cancer patients.
03:58BN Manalo from the National TV Network for a new and better Philippines.
04:03BN Manalo from the National TV Network for a new and better Philippines.
