Lung cancer is the top cancer killer worldwide, with 2.09 million incidences and 1.76 million fatalities this year alone according to the GLOBOCAN 2018 report by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Non-smokers are also susceptible to the disease but a great majority of lung cancer deaths involved smokers.
To help Filipino patients and their loved ones rise above this challenging condition, biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca has partnered with the Philippine Society of Medical Oncology (PSMO), along with local support groups such as the Cancer Coalition Philippines (CCP), and the Philippine Alliance of Patient Organizations (PAPO) and launched LVNG With Lung Cancer, an online resource portal for patients across all stages of the disease.
Dr. Jorge Ignacio, former President of the Philippine Society of Oncologists , Inc. and Head of the Cancer Institute of the UP-PGH
Struggling with stigma
“‘Are you a smoker?’ Many lung cancer patients get this question, but the truth is, different factors cause the disease,” said Dr. Denky Shoji Dela Rosa, a medical oncologist from the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center and St. Luke’s Medical Center. “Lack of awareness has been a source of stigma because people often put the blame on the individual. This makes it difficult for lung cancer patients to find support and form communities.”
Adding to the stigma, new patients tend to think that their illness is a hopeless case. This leaves them with a sense of isolation that worsens their anxiety over their diagnosis.
LVNG With addresses these stigmas by dispelling myths that prevent lung cancer patients from seeking proper treatment and seeing hope in their condition. The community also empowers patients with information that enable them to reach out to medical professionals so they can learn more about treatment options.
Dr. Mary Claire Vega-Soliman, President of the Philippine Society of Medical Oncology and Head of the Tumor Clinic of East Avenue Medical Center
Dr. Mary Claire Soliman, president of the Philippine Society of Medical Oncology and member of Cancer Coalition Philippines also emphasizes that “Standard evidence-based medicine is the way to go in treatment. I understand how the promise of alternative medicines (‘natural”, “herbal” or “nutraceutical medicine”) may be tempting, especially with their claims that they do not have side effects. The fact of the matter is that there is very little evidence to support these claims.
Breakthrough treatment
Chemotherapy or the use of drugs to kill and stunt malignant tumors is usually thought of as the only treatment for cancer. “The fact is, various options are now available depending on the patient’s diagnosis, preference, and recommendations from the healthcare team. Among these include surgery to remove affected lung tissues, radiation therapy that use high doses of radiation to destroy cancer cells, and targeted drug therapy.”, Dr. Maria Luisa Abesamis-Tiambeng of Cardinal Santos Medical Center emphasized.
Dr. Maria Luisa Abesamis-Tiambeng of Cardinal Santos Medical Center
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Targeted drug therapy may be recommended based on biopsy findings. Through biomarker testing, the biopsy can reveal genetic mutations in cancer cells that can be targeted by drugs designed to zero in on those cellular abnormalities.
Therapeutic advances have made targeted drug therapy the standard of care for personalized medicine in the fight against certain lung cancers. One breakthrough is Tagrisso (Osimertinib), an oral tablet from a class of drugs called tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) that target tumors with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations.
Carla Comendador Britanico, a patient living with Stage IV lung cancer for more than 6 years
Tagrisso (Osimertinib) is a third-generation EGFR TKI that has shown better precision and power at stopping lung cancer growth and improving patient survival. A double-blind FLAURA study shows that Tagrisso delivers 18.9 months of median progression-free survival, nearly twice as long as older drugs that deliver a median of 10.2 months. Tagrisso (Osimertinib) also reduces the risk of lung cancer metastasis on the central nervous system by 52 percent and lowers the risk of death by 37 percent based on its preliminary data.
“These results have made Tagrisso (Osimertinib) the recommended and preferred first-line treatment by international guidelines for advanced and metastatic non-small cell lung cancer—the most prevalent type of lung cancer—that tested positive for EGFR,” Dr. Josue adds.
EGFR biomarker testing is available across laboratories and hospitals nationwide including the Chong Hua Hospital, Hi-Precision Diagnostics, Lung Center of the Philippines, Manila HealthTek Inc., National Kidney and Transplant Institute, St. Luke’s Medical Center Global City, and The Medical City.
From left: Dr. Mary Claire Vega-Soliman, President of the Philippine Society of Medical Oncology and Head of the Tumor Clinic of East Avenue Medical Center; Carla Comendador Britanico, a patient living with Stage IV lung cancer for more than 6 years; Dr. Ma. Luisa T. Abesamis-Tiambeng, Director of the Cancer Center at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center; and Dr. Paolo dela Rosa, Medical Advisor and Medical Oncologist at AstraZeneca Philippines.
Learn more about LVNG With Lung Cancer at www.lvngwithphilippines.com or www.lvngph.com.
Osimertinib is a prescription medicine. Patients should consult their physicians
regarding their condition and their treatment.
About AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the
discovery, development, and commercialization of prescription medicines, primarily for the treatment of diseases in three therapy areas – Oncology, Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism and Respiratory. AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide.
For more information, please visit www.astrazeneca.com and follow us on Twitter @AstraZeneca.
If your loved one needs therapy, you can click here to find out what type is needed or the list of available therapists.
Views: 448
Maraming paraan kung pano ggmutin ang lung cancer, Sadly, wlang kakayahn ung iba na ipagamot ito sa doctor dahil sa mhal ang gamutan nito.. kya at the end, ung iba nmmtay nlng din ng wlang ginagwang paraan.
Meron silang pwedeng i-cover ng health card at PhilHealth.
Issue ko sa mga ng sisigarilyo na nakaharap pa sayo kasama pa.ang baby ko sobrang nakakainis po yung ganun mas prone sa sakit ang nkakalanghap ng usok ng sigarilyo kesya sa naninigarilyo kaya ako nalang nag aadjust lumalayo nalang ako kasama ang baby ko.kaya sana lalo pang pag igtingin pa nila ang awareness about sa di mabuting naidudulot ng sigarilyo 👍
aw di naman ata maganda yun, alam namang me bata. If di makatiis magyosi, sana sya na lang lumayo 🙁
Kaya nga.. Isa sa nkakamatay ang lung cancer.. Karamihan kasi di talaa maiwasan ang bisyo lalo napaninigarilyo grabe kahit nag mahal na ang sigarilyo walang mkakapigil sa knila..
naku pag ayaw tumigil, walang mahal mahal 🙁