Philippines-based ICANSERVE Foundation, Inc. launches its online Manual for breast cancer
patients on the last day of the 6th Southeast Asia Breast Cancer Symposium (SEABCS), to be
held virtually from September 23-25, 2022.
ICANSERVE’s comprehensive and engaging Manual is designed to guide breast cancer
patients, survivors, and their caregivers throughout every step of their journey, from
understanding their diagnosis to living beyond cancer. Written entirely by breast cancer
survivors, the Breast Cancer Patient’s Manual delivers vital information in a conversational
manner to help patients feel less overwhelmed and intimidated.
A source of information and encouragement, the Manual combines information gleaned from
studies and established sources, such as the American Cancer Society, the Mayo Clinic, Johns
Hopkins University, Philippine Cancer Society, and more, as well as individual experiences and
anecdotes from breast cancer survivors. 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). “We made sure to tell real
stories, in a language and manner that every survivor or advocate can relate to,” says the
Manual’s editor Alya B. Honasan. “For every member of the editorial team, it was all about
reaching out to sisters who needed help.”
ICANSERVE goes back to its roots with this project. Founded in 1999 by four breast cancer
survivors—Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala, Crisann Celdran, Becky Fuentes, and Bet Lazatin—its first
project was a printed guidebook that was distributed for free in the days when information on
breast cancer was much harder to come by. The foundation has since evolved into one of the
Philippines’ most active cancer patient advocacy groups, taking part in policy-making and
institutionalizing breast cancer control programs.
The Manual will be available for free as a downloadable book after the launch. The SEABCS,
hosted for the first time in the Philippines by ICANSERVE and Global Focus on Cancer, was
previously held in Vietnam (2016), Myanmar (2017), Malaysia (2018), Thailand (2019), and
Indonesia (2021- virtual conference).
Join the conversation. Registration is free. Register for the virtual conference at
ABOUT SEABCS The Southeast Asian Breast Cancer Symposium (SEABCS) is a gathering of the region’s cancer survivors, patient advocates, health professionals, researchers, and policy makers in an event to exchange ideas, share successful strategies, the latest in breast cancer, as well as the many challenges that face the breast cancer community on a personal, local and, national, regional and international level. ABOUT ICANSERVE The ICanServe Foundation is a Philippine-based advocacy group of breast cancer survivors and volunteers that co-creates breast cancer control programs with local government as part of its initiative to promote early breast cancer detection, access to accurate diagnosis and timely treatment, survivorship care, palliative care, hospice care and patient navigation.
