In the Philippines, cancer continues to be one of the leading causes of death—with lung, breast, colon, rectum, and prostate cancer being the most common. In a startling statistic from the University of the Philippines’ Institute of Human Genetics, National Institutes of Health, 189 out of every 100,000 Filipinos are affected by the disease, with 96 patients succumbing to cancer every day. This averages around four deaths every hour.

These are alarming numbers, and cancer cases are expected to increase significantly over the next decade. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, from 154 cases per 1,000 (ages 0 to 85+), the number of cancer incidences is projected to jump to 211 per 1,000 by 2030. On the other hand, deaths by cancer are estimated to increase by 30%, from 10 million deaths in 2020 to over 13 million deaths by 2030. These are lives in numbers, and the impact of cancer on families and loved ones is immeasurable. 

Fortunately, cancer research has led to numerous advances in medical intervention, making the disease not only more treatable but also preventable. These advancements in cancer interventions and treatments include radiation therapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and chemotherapy.

When it comes to battling the “Big C,” while treatments are available, they are proven to be expensive and inaccessible to most Filipinos. Among those diagnosed with cancer, 7 of 10 patients do not complete treatment as the cost can go over P1 million. Chemotherapy, one of the most common treatments available in the country, starts at P20,000 per session and can go as high as P120,000. This is a hefty sum and unfortunately out of reach for the general population.