Southeast Asian Countries Come Together Towards a #BetterFuture4BreastCancer

 Together in Hope, Together in Spirit: The 6th Southeast Asian Breast Cancer Symposium is Happening This September

[From left] Giselle Arroyo, ICanServe Volunteer; Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala, Founding President of ICANSERVE Foundation, Inc.; Crisann Celdran, Chairman of the Board; Alya Honasan, breast cancer survivor; Nikoy De Guzman, President of ICANSERVE Foundation, Inc; Teocel Apolona, Project Manager for SEABCS

Medical professionals, healthcare workers, cancer survivors, patient groups, government, researchers from all over the region are convening for the 6th Southeast Asian Breast Cancer Symposium presented by the ICanServe Foundation. This year’s theme is centered on Designing a Better Future for the Global Breast Cancer Community.

Over 50 speakers from different parts of the world including Princess Dina Mired of Jordan, Former President of the Union for International Cancer Control, Dr. Ben Anderson, an internationally recognized leader in cancer control from the World Health Organization, Sec. Paulyn Ubial, former Secretary of the Department of Health, will join moderators and a panel of reactors in a 3-day conference happening on September 23-25. The event will take place on-ground and online, with attendees from all over Southeast Asia.

"It's an opportunity to figure out as a region how best to create and sustain a robust, responsive health system, to project what makes cancer in our region unique, so we are well represented in the global cancer space whether in the creation of global health initiatives, research, clinical trials, advocacy or access to grants. Ultimately, we want all breast cancer patients to have equal access to affordable, quality, timely care," says Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala, ICanServe Founding President.

Alya Honasan, breast cancer survivor, revealed the cover of the ICANSERVE Patient Manual yesterday at the media roundtable for the 6th Southeast Asian Breast Cancer Symposium (SEABCS). The Patient Manual will be launched officially on the last day of SEABCS happening on September 23-25. It will be downloadable for free at the ICANSERVE website. Looking on is ICANSERVE president Nikoy de Guzman.

The ICanServe Foundation is proud to have been invited by the Global Focus on Cancer to be this year’s host and thankful for the support of its partners like the UICC, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), ABC Global Alliance, Reach to Recovery International, Philippine College of Surgeons, Philippine Society of Breast Surgeons, Philippine Society of Medical Oncology, Philippine Society of Oncologists, Inc, the Cancer Coalition Philippines, Suandok Breast Cancer Network, Yayasan Kanker Payudara Indonesia, and Shwe Yaung Hnin Si Cancer Foundation.

"As host, ICanServe designed the event and the program with the help of partners," Magsanoc-Alikpala says. "We struck a balance so we would appeal to different stakeholders, including those in the NGO space, not necessarily cancer focused. We have design thinking, social media, organizational management, even artificial intelligence-related topics. For the health professionals, we will introduce mostly new studies and breakthroughs . There are topics for cancer survivors at any point in their journey."

Everyone is welcome to join. Registration is free at https://seabcsphilippines.ph/

SEABCS is made possible by Pfizer, Roche, AIA, Novartis, De Guzman Group, Nutriasia, Unilab, Healthway  Cancer Care Hospital, In the Pink and Globe.

 

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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.