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Padilla to doctors: Help encourage alternative treatment for cancer

Philippines | National

Padilla to doctors: Help encourage alternative treatment for cancer

By Dhel Nazario

Sen. Robinhood Padilla called on doctors to keep an open mind and find alternative cancer treatments.

Padilla made the call on Thursday, Feb. 22 to doctors, especially for poor cancer patients who cannot afford the high costs of treatment.

"Sana po magkaroon tayo ng mga alternative na paggamot sa treatment sa mga cancer patients, pain management, dahil sa ngayon talaga, hirap na hirap po ang ating mga kababayan pagdating sa medical treatment (I hope we can have alternative treatment for cancer patients, including for pain management. Many of our fellow Filipinos are having difficulty in getting medical treatment)," Padilla said before the Philippine College of Radiology Convention in Pasay City.

"Kaya po sana makahanap tayo ng paraan para magkaroon naman po ng pag-asa ang kababayan na di kayang bumili. Napakamahal ng gamot para sa cancer... Ang gobyerno, alam po ang datos, alam po kung papaano makakagawa ng paraan para magkaroon ng alternative treatment. Kaya lang po siyempre kailangan natin ng tulong ng mga doctor (I hope we can find ways to give hope to the poor cancer patients who cannot afford treatment and medicine. The government can find ways for alternative treatment but it needs the support of doctors)," dagdag niya.

Padilla has been advocating the legalization of the "compassionate use" of medical cannabis (marijuana), including for pain management.

At Thursday's event, Padilla stressed it is time to open our minds and see what First World countries have been doing regarding cancer treatment and pain management.

He stressed cancer is a big problem because of the growing number of cancer patients in the Philippines and worldwide.

Padilla lamented many Filipinos who are poor cannot afford traditional cancer treatments.

Related Tags

cancer treatment cancer patients Senator Robin Padilla

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