(Photo: National Cancer Institute/Unsplash)
Cover (Photo: National Cancer Institute/Unsplash)

Listed below are organisations that provide support to patients with cancer

Only cancer patients and their loved ones know how utterly heartbreaking it is to go through the whole ordeal. The regular trips to the hospital, therapies, and bills are topped by the thought of oblivion or untimely demise. 

Bearing these in mind, people have put up several charities and organisations that support cancer patients in the Philippines. Tatler lists them down below.

See also: Philippine Cancer Society Launches Coffee Table Book Featuring Best-Dressed Men And Women

1. Philippine Cancer Society, Inc

Tatler Asia
(Photo: National Cancer Institute/Unsplash)
Above (Photo: National Cancer Institute/Unsplash)

The Philippine Cancer Society, Inc. (PCSI) is an independent, non-profit organisation founded by a group of laymen and medical experts in 1956. It seeks to help Filipino cancer patients cope with the disease by providing information, access to diagnosis, and treatment, especially among the disadvantaged sectors of society. The PCSI is a private, voluntary organisation that is governed by a Board of Trustees (BOT) duly elected during the general assembly of members.

To learn more about the group, feel free to visit their official website.

2. Philippine Breast Cancer Network

Tatler Asia
Pink ribbon for breast cancer (Photo: Angiola Harry/Unsplash)
Above Pink ribbon for breast cancer (Photo: Angiola Harry/Unsplash)

Among Asian countries, the Philippines is the country with the most women affected by breast cancer. “Three out of 100 (Filipino) women will get breast cancer before age 75 and one out of 100 will die before reaching 75,” an official of the Philippine Society of Medical Oncology said.

Because of this, the Philippine Breast Cancer Network is dedicated to identifying the environmental causes of breast cancer for the prevention, early intervention and ultimate eradication of the disease. Organised as a direct result of the 1997 World Conference on Breast Cancer, the team tirelessly advocates for the global eradication of this unacceptable disease.

Related: 5 Charitable Athletes Who Started Their Own Foundation Centres

3. UP-PGH Cancer Institute

Tatler Asia
Dr. Dione Suther, Erlinda Cambia, and Chit Lijauco Dr. Jorge Ignacio, Dr. Gap Legaspi, Dr. Gregorio Avior, and Tatler Philippines Managing Director Irene Martel Francisco
Above Dr. Dione Suther, Erlinda Cambia, and Chit Lijauco Dr. Jorge Ignacio, Dr. Gap Legaspi, Dr. Gregorio Avior, and Tatler Philippines Managing Director Irene Martel Francisco

The University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital Cancer Institute seeks to provide international comprehensive cancer treatment for charity and private inpatients and outpatients.

In 2016, Tatler Philippines signed a memorandum of agreement with the heads of the UP-PGH Cancer Institute. The said agreement secured PHP 11,659,000 in funding for advanced or late-stage cancer patients. The partnership was made possible by the 2016 Tatler Ball.

To know more about the UP-PGH Cancer Institute, call +632 526 6953 or +632 554 8400, ext 4100. 

4. Cancer Warriors Foundation

Tatler Asia
Toy Wheelchair. Toys as well as art and craft materials are available to help pediatric cancer patients cope with their treatment at the NIH Clinical Center. (Photo: Daniel Sone/Unsplash)
Above Toy Wheelchair. Toys as well as art and craft materials are available to help pediatric cancer patients cope with their treatment at the NIH Clinical Center. (Photo: Daniel Sone/Unsplash)

The Cancer Warriors Foundation (CWFI) which was founded in 2000, facilitates cancer information campaigns in communities, churches, schools, and offices. The team also assists parents of newly diagnosed kids by sharing experience-based tips as well as hope.

It also aims to ensure that poor and impoverished children with cancer will have access to timely and appropriate diagnosis, affordable and good quality drugs, proper treatment, and care.

CWFI is a key member of the ICCCPO (International Confederation of Childhood Cancer Parents Organizations), a global network of 187 member organizations in 90countries.

5. Touched by Max, Inc.

Tatler Asia
(Photo: Hannah Busing/Unsplash)
Above (Photo: Hannah Busing/Unsplash)

Touched by Max Inc. is a patient group corporation that aims to provide support for Filipino children with myeloid leukaemia (CML) and Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST). As of this post, the organisation has more than 2000 members. The group advocates for the "physical, emotional, social and spiritual well-being of these patients and their respective families through the availability of social support services including access to treatment."

Read also: 5 Tips When Donating To Charities in the Philippines

6. Philippine Society of Pediatric Oncology

Tatler Asia
(Photo: Rosie Sun/ Unsplash)
Above (Photo: Rosie Sun/ Unsplash)

The Philippine Society of Pediatric Oncology (PSPO) is a professional organisation founded in 2000. The group actively raises awareness of childhood cancer by aiming to increase the prioritisation of the disease at national and global levels and increase the government’s capabilities to provide quality services for children.

“The country has 130 hospitals treating children with cancer but only three have dedicated pediatric oncology wards, of which two are in Metro Manila and one in Davao," said PSPO President Dr Patricia Alcasabas.

Click here to visit their official website.

7. ICanServe Foundation

Tatler Asia
Photo from the 'ICanServe' Foundation
Above Photo from the 'ICanServe' Foundation

ICanServe Foundation, Inc. is a Filipino-based advocacy group that fosters the welfare of cancer survivors and volunteers. Founded by Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala, the organisation co-creates breast cancer control programs with local government as part of its initiative to promote early breast cancer detection, access to accurate diagnosis, and timely treatment. 

The group also provides survivorship care, hospice care, and patient navigation. 

Visit this website for more information.


*This article was initially published last September 11, 2021; some changes were applied since then. 

NOW READ

Kythe Foundation Inc Celebrates 30 Years of Helping Paediatric Cancer Patients

Breast Cancer in the Philippines: What to Know and How to Face it

Inside the Pink Ball: Estée Lauder’s Charity Gala for the Breast Cancer Campaign’s 30th Anniversary

Topics