ICanServe Foundation Empowers Patients Breast Cancer Patients with Launch of Comprehensive Patient Manual

ICanServe Foundation launched “You Can Do This. A breast Cancer Patient’s Manual,” 4 Comprehensive resources designed to support breag; Cancer patients, survivors, and their Caregivers on their journey to wellness. Available as a free download in English and Filipino. the Manual was launched on September 14, 2023, in Maka City.

I didn’t know much about cancer or how to have it When | was diagnosed 24 years ago. Speaking with other survivors and searching online helped minimize the fear and empowered me,” shared Crisann Celdran, ICanServe Co-founder a, d Chairman of the Board. "The Manual is a love letter from survivors to other survivors ang their caregivers and families, and one wish had access to back then.” According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 27 163 women were diagnosed with breast cancer in the Philippines in 2020, making it the most common cancer in the country. Furthermore, 70 percent of women are diagnosed at advanced stages, underscoring the need for early detection. To help patients, survivors and caregivers access essential information throughout their cancer journey, the Manual offers practical knowledge and advice, and shares heartfelt stories from breast cancer survivors. "As a longtime survivor, many newly diagnosed women or their loved ones come to me for advice. While | try my best, my answers tend to be insufficient, vague, or scattered. With this Manual, I'm able to give sound advice even for questions they haven't asked—in a more organized manner,” said |CanServe President Nikoy de Guzman. "We hope this Manual sends the message that cancer is not a death sentence. Many things can be done to ease the burden of a cancer diagnosis. No one is alone in her fight." A source of information and encouragement, the Manual combines information gleaned from studies and established sources such as the American Cancer Society, as well as personal anecdotes. It covers a wide range of topics, from the medical (understanding treatment options, managing side effects), to the personal (how to tell your family and friends), to the practical (financing cancer treatment). "Written by breast cancer survivors, and with input from experts in various fields, from Psychiatry to palliative care, the updated Manual is written in lay™4"'s terms to help patients as well as

their families and support groups at different stages " the journey. It's a solid, valuable reminder that no breast cancer survivor is ever completely alone in this experience,” shared Alya Honasan, ICanServe volunteer, journalist, artist. Ck author, yoga instructor, and the annual’s editor. Dr. Corazon Ngelangel of the National Integrate Cancer Control Counsel and Philippine Cancer Society supported the Manual, saying, "This Manual empowers women to take charge of their well-being through self-education, self-assessment, and self-reliance equipping them with " insights on getting the right treatment at the right time"

In her keynote address, Department of Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire congratulate |CanServe on the launch of the Manual, saying: ‘| See this manual as not just a publication: it's a lifeline, a source of empowerment, and a beacon of hope for countless individuals and families affected by breast cancer.”

“What sets apart the |CanServe patient manual, ‘You can Do This! is that it is Philippine and patient centered. To this day, there are gaps in information for the rich, the middle class, and the poor. Patients often feel side effects or symptoms that are unacknowledged and unaddressed. We want patients, carers, caregivers, and health providers to form a circle of support for patients, and to fully share in the journey, beginning with accurate information and acknowledging the unique and nuanced experience of breast cancer patients. This circle of Support equals hope—the one thing you should never take away from a patient," noted Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala, Founding President, l|CanServe and Vice President for Internal Affairs, Cancer Coalition Philippines.

To download “You Can Do This: A Breast Cancer Patient’s Manual,” visit httos://www.icanservefoundation.org/patients-manual.

About ICANSERVE Foundation ICANSERVE Foundation, Inc. was founded in 1999 to provide information and a circle of support for women diagnosed with breast cancer. From a support group working to empower Women with accurate information on breast cancer, ICANSERVE has evolved and expanded its advocacy to promote breast cancer control programs on the national and local level. As a founding member of Cancer Coalition Philippines, ICANSERVE was instrumental in the passage of the National Integrated Cancer Control Act in 2019: the first legislation of its kind in Southeast. Asia. The foundation continues to advocate for the full implementation of the law to ensure that no cancer patient gets left behind.

For more information about ICanServe, please visit https://www.icanservefoundation.org/ or

send an email to info@icanservefoundation.org

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