‘Celebration of life’

Issued fifteen years ago, Proclamation 1676 mandated that every fourth week of April each year must be observed as the Head and Neck Cancer Consciousness Week. Having the force and effect of a law, it remains effective even after former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed it way back on Nov. 21, 2008.

As declared in Proclamation 1676, it has tasked the Department of Health (DOH) and the Philippine Society of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery to take the lead in planning and organizing activities for the Head and Neck Consciousness Week. All other government and non-government organizations (NGOs), private and local government units, academic institutions and civil society groups are enjoined to take an active role and participate in the celebration and conduct of activities.

We took up in this week’s Kapihan sa Manila Bay breakfast news forum about the head and neck cancer (HNC). According to oncologist Dr. Priscilla Caguioa, HNC attacks our body’s nasopharynx, oral cavity, larynx and thyroid. During her stint as former president of the Philippine Society of Medical Oncology, Dr. Caguioa noted the HNC diseases ranked as the third most common cancer afflicting Filipinos, especially those who are into heavy tobacco or cigarette smoking and alcoholic drinks.

The DOH is principally the designated government agency mandated to implement Republic Act (RA) 11215, or the National Integrated Cancer Control Act (NICCA) that took effect in February, 2019. Among other key features of the NICCA in addressing the pervasive cancer ailments all over the country, especially those afflicting the indigent patients, was the provision of the Cancer Assistance Fund (CAF) in the annual budget of the DOH. From the DOH data, lung cancer tops the leading cause of death among all cancer-stricken Filipinos, followed by liver, breast, colon, and leukemia.

Speaking in our Kapihan sa Manila Bay news forum last Wednesday, Senate assistant majority leader JV Ejercito vowed to ensure the full implementation of the NICCA as well as the Universal Health Care (UHC). He is one of the principal authors of NICCA and the UHC that he shepherded during the 17th Congress as the former chairman of the Senate committee on health. Calling them as “landmark laws,” Sen.JV noted with dismay the two measures remain to be “works in progress” during his absence when he ran but lost his first re-election bid at the Senate three years ago.

During our news forum, cancer advocates Carmen Auste, senior vice resident of the Cancer Coalition Philippines, and HNC survivors Elmer Rojas and Jojo Flores joined Sen.JV in the call for the full implementation of the NICCA and UHC laws. Auste cited with optimism that half of the “12 promises of NICCA” were already started being implemented.

Auste specifically cited the construction for the 20-storey of the Philippine Cancer Center at the compound of the National Kidney and Transplant Institute in Quezon City. She described it as a “legacy” of the present administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (PBBM). Sen. JV recognized though the implementation of these two health laws have been slowed down by the COVID-19 pandemic when it erupted in March, 2020.

Sen.JV pointed to his personal experience of the psychological, emotional and financial burden of having a cancer-stricken member of the family. His wife is a breast cancer survivor. She underwent mastectomy in 2016 and chemotherapy and is continuing her annual cancer check-up. The Senator admitted he could only imagine the more difficult situation of low-income families having to face the high costs of cancer treatment, very expensive medicines and post-surgery therapy sessions.

He saw the same burden and experiences of many indigent families with cancer patients while he was Mayor of San Juan City for nine years and three years as Congressman. So he made it his personal advocacy on cancer causes.

While there are subsidies coming from the Philippine Health Insurance Corp., the DOH, and fund assistance from other national government agencies and local government units, Sen.JV deplored the out-pocket-expenses of cancer patients remain high at 60 to 70 percent of the medical expenses.

“The common concern really is how much is the cost of cancer treatment,” Sen.JV rued.

Advocates for cancer patients, Auste, Rojas and Flores thanked and lauded Sen.JV as their “champion” who carried the ball in the Congress approval of the NICCA and UHC laws that extended the lives of thousands of those afflicted with this deadly illness.

Auste assuaged though cancer survivors should enjoy life to the fullest and not to be depressed by the “fake news” being spread about cancer. She cited the case of her 25-year old son James who overcome brain cancer surgery at age 19 years old. James, in fact, ran and completed four marathon races here and abroad.

Aided by electronic gadget, 62-year old Rojas lost his voice to throat cancer 20 years ago due to cigarette smoking. For heavy intake of alcohol drinks, Flores, now 67 years old, lost part of his tongue at age 27. Despite talking with difficulties, Auste fondly teased Rojas and Flores as “talkative” among the most vocal cancer advocates.

“But there will be no future for our patients if we will not be able to implement these laws,” Auste urged.

We tried to invite officials of the DOH to join us in the focused discussions on cancer. Last week, our Kapihan sa Manila Bay news forum tackled the breast cancer which is the most common cancer among Filipino women.

But on both occasions, the DOH begged off. Headed by Undersecretary Ma.Rosario Vergeire as the designated officer-in-charge (OIC) of the DOH, the agency’s communications office informed us their Cancer Division officials could be available to participate in our next Kapihan sa Manila Bay at the earliest on May 10.

Our next focused discussions though will be in June when we observe it as the National Cancer Survivors Month. Dubbed as the “Celebration of Life,” it is observed worldwide every first Sunday of June each year.