Ating Dibdibin
Ating Dibdibin or “Take Your Breast Care To Heart”, is a comprehensive community-based breast cancer screening program. The program teaches early breast cancer detection techniques so breast cancer is diagnosed at an early stage.
Most breast cancers in the Philippines are discovered in the late stages. Most women postpone going to the doctor despite knowing they have suspicious breast lumps.
Ating Dibdibin, a first of its kind in the country, is the ICanServe Foundation’s response to the fact that the Philippines has the highest incidence of breast cancer in Southeast Asia. It also ranks 9th in the world in breast cancer incidence.
The program aims to save lives by teaching early breast cancer detection techniques through free forums and screening sessions conducted by a medical team and cancer survivors.
Should anyone be diagnosed with a suspicious lump during the screening, the Ating Dibdibin program provides access to financial help for diagnostics and treatment.
The program is made possible by a partnership between the ICanServe Foundation and a locality like a city or province that will agree to make the program permanent.
ICanServe trains the locality’s medical team, including those interested medical professionals in the private sector on early breast cancer detection techniques. Intensive focus is on training of the barangay health workers, or the community health workers, the front-liners to the community.
ICanServe also taps and trains breast cancer survivors in the locality so they can share their journey of healing and encourage other women to take charge of their health.
In 2008, the first partnership was forged with Marikina City. The city institutionalized Ating Dibdibin and created the first breast cancer trust fund in the country. Together with ICanServe, the program includes free mammography, free biopsy, free surgery, discounted ultrasound and access to government funding agencies and the Philippine Cancer Society.
In 2010, Panabo City in Davao province was the second to embrace the program as permanent. In 2012, Taguig City embraced Ating Dibdibin and Muntinlupa City became the fourth ICANSERVE partner city in 2014. In 2020, Tagum City joined those in the forefront of implementing this early detection program.
Results of a research in Marikina City show that because of the foundation’s intervention, the program Ating Dibdibin has changed women’s behavior toward cancer. Those who attended the forums and screening sessions no longer fear breast cancer and regularly conduct monthly breast self exam.
Ating Dibdibin aims to cover as many cities as possible and is open for partnership. It also wishes for its partners to duplicate the program in the partners’ chosen cities and provinces.
Archive of past events
Silver Linings ’11
The 3rd Silver Linings on September 17 gathered yet again over a thousand participants, each one reaching out for information and hope. ICanServe Foundation, with co-presentors Evolife and Philippine Daily Inquirer, mounted the 2011 edition of Silver Linings at the...
Ating Dibdibin launched in Panabo City
ICanServe Foundation and the City of Panabo partnered for Ating Dibdibin, the first comprehensive national community-based breast cancer screening program in the Philippines. A flagship project of ICANSERVE, Ating Dibdibin aims to save more lives by promoting early...
ICanServe, PDRC facilitate screening of deaf women
ICanServe Foundation partnered with the Philippine Deaf Resource Center (PDRC) to facilitate breast cancer screening of deaf women. Conducted on March 27 in celebration of 2010 Women’s Month and Month of Women with Disabilities, Dr. Liza Martinez, ICanServe member and...
PIA Run pledges help for ICanServe’s early breast cancer detection campaign
In celebration of International Women’s Day, Senator Pia Cayetano and her Pinay In Action (PIA) Team organized on March 13 the PIA Run 2010, the fifth annual running series to benefit indigent women with breast and cervical cancer. The biggest and only all-women’s...
Ating Dibdibin receives Anvil Award of Excellence
Ating Dibdibin, ICanServe Foundation’s community-based early breast cancer detection program supported by Pfizer Philippines and Pfizer Foundation, received the Anvil Award of Excellence at the 45th Anvil Awards of the Public Relations Society of the Philippines. The...
“Ating Dibdibin” and “Take Your Breast Care to Heart” Videos
Dawn Zulueta and Lea Salonga support the ICanServe Foundation and C-Network’s campaign of early breast cancer detection. Through a breast self-exam instructional video, the ICanServe Foundation is sending the message that a healthy future begins with you. Dawn Zulueta...
ICanServe selected to participate in premiere LIVESTRONG® Global Cancer Summit in Dublin, Ireland
First-ever event to bring together world leaders, advocates and corporations from more than 60 countries to address the global cancer burden. Manila, Philippines – July 14, 2009 – Today, ICanServe Foundation announced that Carla Paras-Sison, volunteer coordinator for...
American Cancer Society supports Ating Dibdibin
In an effort to strengthen its cancer-related programs and services in Southeast Asia, the American Cancer Society (ACS) has began networking with health- and cancer-related non-government organizations (NGOs) that will assist the ACS in working with national...
Training Sessions for Breast Cancer Screening Program underway
Training sessions for Ating Dibdibin have begun in preparation for the program’s launch on June 6 . Ating Dibdibin is a national breast cancer screening program designed by ICanServe under the auspices of the American Cancer Society. Through a Memorandum of Agreement...
Ating Dibdibin, the national Breast Cancer Screening Program
ICanServe partners with Marikina City through Mayor Marides Fernando for its flagship program,”Ating Dibdibin, the first community based breast cancer screening program in the country. “Ating Dibdibin” will be launched on June 6. A Memorandum of Agreement will be...