ICanServe Foundation launched “You Can Do This: A Breast Cancer Patient’s Manual,” a comprehensive resource designed to support breast cancer patients, survivors, and their caregivers on their journey to wellness. Available as a free download in English and Filipino, the Manual was formally launched to the media on September 14, 2023, in Makati City.
“I didn’t know much about cancer or how to have it when I 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 and Chairman of the Board. “The Manual is a love letter from survivors to other survivors and their caregivers and families, and one I wish I 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 I 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 ICanServe 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 layman’s terms to help patients as well as their families and support groups at different stages on 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, book author, yoga instructor, and the Manual’s editor.
Dr. Corazon Ngelangel of the National Integrated Cancer Control Council 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 congratulated ICanServe on the launch of the Manual, saying: “I see this Manual as not just a publication; it is a lifeline, a source of empowerment, and a beacon of hope for countless individuals and families affected by breast cancer.”
“What sets apart the ICanServe 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, ICanServe and Vice President for Internal Affairs, Cancer Coalition Philippines.
To download “You Can Do This: A Breast Cancer Patient’s Manual,” visit https://www.icanservefoundation.org/patients-manual.
The Patient Manual Team and Medical Consultants: (L-R) Dr. Remi Karis Velasco, Dr. Claire Soliman, Dr. Mae Corvera, Abbygale Arenas, Alya Honasan, Dr. Corazon Ngelangel, Dr. Madeleine Mallilllin, Giselle Arroyo, and Gina Torres-Evangelista
ICanServe chairman Crisann Celdran unveils the cover of the Patient’s Manual
The Patient Manual Team, Medical Consultants, and ICanServe Board of Directors
ICanServe Members
Patient Manual Editor Alya Honasan
Abbygale Arenas, Taguig City Executive Assistant for Health Dr. Cecille Montales, Muntinlupa City First Lady Trina Biazon, ICanServe Founding President Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala, Patient Manual Project Manger Gina Torres-Evangelista, San Juan City First Lady Keri Zamora, and ICanServe member Cherie Altea
National Cancer Council member Carme Auste-Sarmiento delivers the keynote address on behalf of DOH USec. Rosario Vergeire
ICanServe President Nikoy de Guzman, Chairman Crisann Celdran, and Founding President Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala
ICanServe member Abbygale Arenas, who graces the cover of ICanServe’s Patient’s Manual