UPM-PGH, CIF and Chevron partner to save lives through cancer prevention

MANILA, Philippines - In an effort to provide affordable and accessible cancer prevention treatment to Filipinos, the University of the Philippines Manila (UPM)-Philippine General Hospital (PGH) Cancer Institute, Cancer Institute Foundation (CIF) and the Chevron Operating Companies in the Philippines have partnered to develop the first pilot Cancer Prevention Center.

The center aims to reduce cancer morbidity and mortality in the Philippines through a comprehensive prevention program that integrates scientific progress and its practical applications.

The center, through its Cancer Detection Clinic, provides screening, early cancer detection, and counseling to healthy or asymptomatic patients who are at high risk of developing the disease due to hereditary, environmental, and other conditioning factors. It also trains health professionals on how to diagnose, treat premalignant cases and refer cancer cases to specialists. This model facility is intended to serve as a peg for other early cancer detection clinics in the future.

Over the three-year program term, the center will develop and document policies, guidelines, operational plans, and best practices, as well as the outcomes of day-to-day operations to ensure that early detection clinics can be replicated in municipal health centers and corporate clinics.

The 2005 Philippine Cancer Facts and Estimates published by the Philippine Cancer Society, Department of Health, and UPM-PGH stated that cancers of the breast, cervix, colon, rectum, oral, thyroid and prostate can be cured if detected early and treated properly. Although studies like these have also shown that one third of cancer are preventable and curable, most Filipino patients seek treatment only once symptoms appear or when the disease has progressed. 

The lack of awareness among patients on the benefits of screening, early diagnosis and treatment, and apprehension to seek medical advice due to possible expenses have contributed to the low cancer survival rates among Filipinos.

 For its initial phase, the pilot Cancer Detection Clinic is now open to the UPM-PGH and UP-Manila community. This year, the clinic will focus on women’s healthcare, followed by men’s health by 2011.

Alongside the support of the Chevron Companies, the Cancer Prevention Center is managed and operated by Dr. Ramon Arcadio, UP Manila chancellor; Dr. Rolando Enrique Domingo, UPM-PGH director; Dr. Jorge Ignacio, Cancer Institute chairman; Antonio Perez, Cancer Institute Foundation president; Dr. Cecilia Llave, Cancer Prevention Center program director; Dr. Paul Pinlac, Cancer Detection Clinic manager; Dr. Shiela Banaag, Cancer Detection Clinic chief doctor; and Jimmy Sison, head nurse.