The Department of Health (DOH) reaffirmed its commitment to improve the lives of those affected by thyroid cancer through a webinar series on Monday, Sept. 25.

The webinar series, streamed via Facebook, is part of this year’s National Thyroid Cancer Awareness Week.

“Each year, this occasion served as an opportunity to reaffirm the commitment to improving the lives of those affected by thyroid cancer and advancing the DOH's mission to prevent, detect, treat, and support individuals on their path to recovery,” said DOH Undersecretary Dr. Maria Rosario Vergeire during the event.

Vergeire highlighted the annual observance of the National Thyroid Cancer Awareness Week every 4th week of September. This initiative aimed to educate the public about the symptoms and early actions to prevent thyroid cancer, as mandated by Republic Act 10786.

Standardizing patient care

Regarding the burden of thyroid cancer in the country, Vergeire emphasized the DOH's prioritization of creating guidelines for standardizing patient care.

These guidelines, she added, encompassed primary care screening, detection, diagnosis, treatment, support care, survivorship, follow-up care, rehabilitation, and validation.

Vergeire also emphasized that making these services available was not enough. Accessibility, she added, had to be ensured for every Filipino, regardless of prevailing social and economic disparities.

To address these determinants of health infrastructure, Vergeire highlighted the importance of education and financial support in reducing the impact of thyroid cancer and promoting health equity in the Philippines.

Vergeire expressed optimism about the future, emphasizing that discussions and collaboration were vital as the DOH continued to work toward the common goal of providing universal health care for all.

She also underscored the collective effort required in advocacy, involving individuals, organizations, healthcare professionals, and policymakers.

"Sa pagtutulungan ng bawat isa, sama-sama po nating abutin ang isang healthy Pilipinas (Through the collaboration of everyone, let us together achieve a healthy Philippines)," Vergeire said, emphasizing the importance of collaborative efforts in achieving a healthier Philippines.

Raising awareness

Meanwhile, Vergeire also highlighted the global observance of September as International Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month.

Vergeire stressed the increasing prevalence of thyroid cancer worldwide, ranking as the 4th most common cancer in women globally, affecting them three times more frequently than men.

In the United States, she noted a concerning trend where thyroid cancer had become the fastest-growing cancer diagnosis. Notably, Southeast Asian immigrants, particularly Filipino women, had contributed significantly to these statistics.

Vergeire emphasized that thyroid cancer ranked as the 7th most common cancer among Filipinos and occupied the 21st position in terms of cancer mortality, as per the Globocan report. (Zekinah Elize Espina)