Philippine Cancer Society Launches Expanded ACT NOW Program for Early Cancer Diagnosis

The Philippine Cancer Society (PCS) has launched an expanded ACT NOW program, a mobile screening initiative aiming to link patients with medical care for early diagnosis of breast and cervical cancer in marginalized communities. The program uses AI-assisted screening technology for faster diagnosis and treatment, including liver and lung cancer diagnosis in the future. The PCS emphasizes the importance of early detection, stating that it saves lives and bridges the gap between screening technology and communities in need. The program is particularly urgent as cancer is the second highest cause of death in the Philippines, with breast and cervical cancer being leading causes of death among Filipino women.

Key Takeaways:

• The PCS launched the expanded ACT NOW program for early diagnosis of breast and cervical cancer in marginalized communities using mobile screening buses.
• The program aims to link patients with medical care and use AI-assisted screening technology for faster diagnosis and treatment.
• The PCS plans to include liver and lung cancer diagnosis in the future using the same technology.
• The program will offer free screening services for breast and cervical cancers in five regions in the Philippines.
• The PCS highlighted the importance of early detection, citing that cancer is the second highest cause of death in the Philippines.
• Breast cancer is the leading cause of death among Filipino women, with around 11,857 deaths recorded annually.
• The PCS aims to bridge the gap between screening technology and communities in need.
• The program director emphasized that they are not waiting for patients to come to them, but rather bringing evidence-based cancer screening directly to their communities.

Statistics:

• Around 11,857 deaths are recorded annually due to breast cancer in the Philippines.
• This translates to 32 Filipino women dying daily due to breast cancer.
• Cancer is the second highest cause of death in the Philippines.
• Breast and cervical cancer are leading causes of death among Filipino women.
• The PCS plans to reach approximately 5 regions in the Philippines with its mobile screening buses.

Sources:

• Philippine Cancer Society (PCS) statement
• World Health Organization (WHO) for resource-limited settings