Cancer Abatement & Rehabilitation Efforts (CARE) Program
In the field of research and training, the Foundation continued its linkage with two community-based cancer registries in the cities of Bacolod and Davao. One of its flagship projects, the cancer registry project is a developmental approach in the fight against cancer. Data generated by the research is used in designing information-education campaigns for the prevention or early detection of the type of cancer prevalent in the area. Registry data is also fed to the regional Center for Health Development offices for the same purpose, and for inclusion in national statistics.
To date, only the Registry in Bacolod is being supported by the Foundation. The Davao Registry has been turned-over to DOH-Center for Health Development Region XI for its continued operations.
Under the Training component, the Foundation held the 23rd Andres Soriano Jr. Memorial Lectures for the year 2010. Aimed at increasing awareness on cancer, the Lecture Series started off in the early 80s’ as a purely medical lecture, meant only for oncologists and other related medical professionals. Then, discussions were quite scientific, with topics often being updates on cancer treatment modalities. In the mid-90s, the lectures started to become “more layman” in approach, targeting students, teachers, even nuns and priests. This year’s lecture in Cebu City focused on Management of Soft Tissues Sarcomas was held within the three-day 8th Asia Pacific Conference of Muskulo-Skeletal Tumor Society.
 
The second component of the CARE Program is the one that allows the Foundation contact with the poor. Through the UP-PGH Cancer Institute/Andres Soriano Jr. Cancer Center, the Foundation is able to serve around 400 out-patients daily with free medical consultation, free ward confinement, and medical social services. The Cancer Center can accommodate 51 adult in-patients and 8 pediatric in-patients. It also houses the Munting Paraiso for pediatric cancer patients, a recreational center built and supported by noted hairstylist Ricky Reyes and the Avon Breast Cancer Clinic. In partnership with the Cancer Institute, an “Alay sa Chemo Fund” was established to help solely indigent breast cancer patients (stage 1 to 3A) being treated at the CI. The Foundation has annually replenished the fund. Zuellig Pharma’s generosity has helped in funding the project for 2011. The Fund is being managed by the CI Foundation of the UP-PGH and its allocation is overseen by the Center’s Medical Social Services.
Aside from directly serving cancer patients, the Center is also home to the Oncology Library. The Library is a valuable resource center for medical students and practicing oncologists. Its collection of medical books, journals and periodicals come not only from abroad but are also donated by local doctors. To be attuned to the needs of library users, the Foundation recently installed an internet connection at the library including the provision of two brand new units of computer with printer. The Foundation annually provides some P150,000 for the continued operations of the Oncology Library.
 
Funding for the maintenance of the Center, particularly for minor repairs and rehabilitation work, is taken from a Maintenance Fund set-up by the Foundation and managed by the University of the Philippines-Manila. The Maintenance Fund amounts to some P2.2 million; a portion of its interest income is used for the maintenance of the Center while the rest is returned to the corpus fund. Lately, the Foundation has renovated the entire Auditorium of the Center costing some P500,000.
The component on consensus building is how the Foundation gets to meet and work with cancer support groups and advocates from all over the country, with the purpose of strengthening the Philippine Cancer Control Program (PCCP). The Foundation annually co-sponsors the National Conference of Community-based Cancer Care Networks, which provides support groups with the opportunity to discuss issues and concerns and share experiences and possible solutions.
The ASF-PCS Cancer Fund
The Cancer Fund is managed by the Philippine Cancer Society (PCS) and its utilization is decided upon by an Executive Committee composed by some officers from both the Foundation and the Society. It is through the Cancer Fund that the Foundation is able to widen its reach by granting partial subsidy to projects or activities of other institutions and organizations also involved in cancer treatment and management.
Since the Cancer Fund’s establishment in 1999, the Foundation has been able to support such projects as the printing of chemotherapy books for children with cancer, the publication of medical oncology training manuals, national conventions of cancer support groups, provincial lectures, the establishment of community-based cancer registries and the maintenance of an oncology library. Following the new direction of the Foundation in terms of its Fellowship Program, the Foundation in partnership with the Forum Against Cancer through Encouragement and Support (FACES) to implement a Specialized Course on Oncology Nursing with Riverside College – Graduate School of Nursing as collaborating partner. A grant of P200,000 was approved for the initial implementation of the course. The target participants of this undertaking shall be the nurses from the various hospitals which has a cancer treatment facility.
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