(L-R) Dr. Florge Francis Sy, Dr. Marvin Mendoza, Ms. Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala, and Dr. Cyril Tolosa is one in the fight against breast cancer, one of the most common cancers globally and in the country.
Health experts, advocates, and policymakers gathered in Manila to address the growing burden of breast cancer—the most common cancer worldwide, affecting 2.3 million women and over 100,000 patients in the Philippines. The forum, themed “Bridging the Gap to Redefine Breast Cancer Care in the Philippines,” highlighted the need for early detection, innovative treatment, and stronger institutional support.
“We are here to give hope for women and breast cancer patients,” said Dr. Florge Francis Sy, Medical Oncology Consultant at the Philippine General Hospital. “By providing the public with the necessary knowledge, they can make informed decisions on whether to go for a consultation or seek treatment.”
According to the Global Cancer Observatory, breast cancer accounted for 33,079 new cases and 11,857 deaths in 2022, with over 100,000 women living with the disease in the last five years. Yet, only 1% of Filipino women undergo cancer screening—a gap experts say must be addressed.
Ms. Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala of ICanServe Foundation reminded women to have regular breast exams as early as age 20 to help prevent late-stage breast cancer diagnosis.
Global breast cancer advocate and ICanServe Foundation co-founder Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala said, “It really comes down to two things: one is fear of the cost, and number two, the myth that breast cancer is a death sentence. We have to change that narrative. You can survive breast cancer, especially if the diagnosis is early.”
She added, “I always tell this to women: there is help and they won’t die. They’re not alone — the government is here, NGOs are here, and there are individual survivors. We have to promote that.”
Dr. Marvin Mendoza said that breast cancer treatment has advanced in recent years due to precision medicine, where it finds weaknesses in target tumors, optimizing treatment and minimizing risks.
For medical oncologist Dr. Marvin Mendoza, access remains uneven. “Mammograms and breast ultrasounds have been there, although it is only available in larger institutions; in some rural areas, they are not readily accessible. So in that aspect, we have a gap,” he said.
However, he noted progress through precision medicine—an approach that uses DNA and biomarker analysis to tailor cancer treatments. “The diagnosis of breast cancer using precision medicine is a big step in helping the journey of breast cancer patients,” Dr. Mendoza added.
Representative Aniela Tolentino of Cavite vowed to push her proposed Free Filipino Women from Breast Cancer Act to provide free screenings and treatment. “With the proposed bill, we will be able to address every unique story and journey that a Filipino woman will face when hit by breast cancer,” she said.
Dr. Cyril Tolosa of AstraZeneca Philippines reiterated their commitment to improving science and making treatment more accessible through collaboration with various sectors.
Dr. Cyril Tolosa, Medical Affairs Director at AstraZeneca Philippines, expressed the private sector’s support. “At AstraZeneca, our ambition is to one day eliminate breast cancer as a cause of death,” he said. “We are pioneering the adoption of precision diagnostics and digital pathology using AI to support accurate and timely diagnosis.”
The forum ended with a unified commitment among medical and advocacy groups to reduce late-stage diagnoses and ensure that no Filipino woman fights breast cancer alone.