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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PGH bracing for possible uptick in advanced cancer cases

PGH bracing for possible uptick in advanced cancer cases

Published Mar 23, 2023 07:50 am
An official of the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) Cancer Institute warned of a possible uptick in advanced cancer cases in the next two to three years. This increase, according to PGH Cancer Institute Chairman Dr. Jorge Ignacio, may be attributed to pandemic-delayed screenings and treatments. “Because patients are really afraid to go out, many of them have progressed. There were those who were afraid to even have a biopsy and were only able to undergo check ups now,” said Ignacio in a mix of English and Filipino at a breast cancer forum held Thursday, March 23. The cancer institute can accommodate 46 patients. At present, around 75 percent of them are classified as advanced cases. This, however, is not yet the last threat. With the easing of Covid-19 health restrictions, the health expert said they are expecting this percentage to further increase. “The numbers went down before, and now it has gone back to what was pre-pandemic. But I think the numbers will go beyond that. We are actually bracing ourselves for it. We have been telling our staff to just be aware that we would be looking at [advanced cancer patients] for the next two to three years,” Ignacio furthered. Ignacio then assured the public that they are equipped and ready to manage the possible surge. “The good thing about our culture is that we've always looked at patients [under the] advanced cases [category] so I would say we are on an above average kind of level looking at those patients,” he furthered. Data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in 2022  showed that cancer is still one of the leading causes of mortality in the Philippines.

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cancer treatment UP Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) advanced cancer cases Jorge Ignacio PGH Cancer Institute
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