Not alone: PH lung cancer community inspires hope in the face of disease

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Breakthrough lung cancer pill Osimertinib shows promise at stopping disease progression and improving patient survival

The fight against lung cancer doesn’t have to be a solo battle.

To help Filipino patients and their loved ones rise above this challenging condition, biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca has partnered with the Philippine Society of Medical Oncology (PSMO), along with local support groups such as the Cancer Coalition Philippines (CCP), and the Philippine Alliance of Patient Organizations (PAPO) to launch LVNG With Lung Cancer, an online resource portal for patients across all stages of the disease

From left: Dr. Mary Claire Vega-Soliman, President of the Philippine Society of Medical Oncology and Head of the Tumor Clinic of East Avenue Medical Center; Carla Comendador Britanico, a patient living with Stage IV lung cancer for more than 6 years; Dr. Ma. Luisa T. Abesamis-Tiambeng, Director of the Cancer Center at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center; and Dr. Paolo dela Rosa, Medical Advisor and Medical Oncologist at AstraZeneca Philippines.

“Being diagnosed with lung cancer can make patients feel anxious and hopeless, which is why support is vital,” explains Dr. Donald Ray Josue, Medical Affairs Head of AstraZeneca Philippines. “LVNG With provides support by forming a community of patients and their loved ones so they can inspire one another and exchange helpful information about their treatment. Through the network, patients may realize that while lung cancer is not yet curable, it is very treatable. There’s still so much more for them to look forward to in their lives.”

Struggling with stigma

Lung cancer is the top cancer killer worldwide, with 2.09 million incidences and 1.76 million fatalities this year alone according to the GLOBOCAN 2018 report by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).[1] But while a majority of lung cancer deaths involve tobacco use,[2] non-smokers are also at serious risk.

“‘Are you a smoker?’ Many lung cancer patients get this question, but the truth is, different factors cause the disease,” said Dr. Denky Shoji Dela Rosa, a medical oncologist from the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center and St. Luke’s Medical Center . “Lack of awareness has been a source of stigma because people often put the blame on the individual. This makes it difficult for lung cancer patients to find support and form communities.”

A 2015 study on the European Respiratory Journal notes that about 25 percent of lung cancer incidences are not linked to smoking, and that the rate of never-smokers diagnosed with the disease has been increasing.[3] The American Cancer Society identifies several causes, such as exposure to second-hand smoke, diesel exhaust, asbestos, radioactive radon gas, and chemicals released by burning coal products.[4]

Adding to the stigma, new patients tend to think that their illness is a hopeless case. This leaves them with a sense of isolation that worsens their anxiety over their diagnosis.

LVNG With addresses these stigmas by dispelling myths that prevent lung cancer patients from seeking proper treatment and seeing hope in their condition. The community also empowers patients with information that enable them to reach out to medical professionals so they can learn more about treatment options.

Dr. Mary Claire Soliman, president of the Philippine Society of Medical Oncology and member of Cancer Coalition Philippines also emphasizes that, “Standard evidence-based medicine is the way to go in treatment. I understand how the promise of alternative medicines (‘natural”, “herbal” or “nutraceutical medicine”) may be tempting, especially with their claims that they do not have side effects. The fact of the matter is that there is very little evidence to support these claims.

A recently published study by Skyler B Johnson at the Journal of the National Cancer Institute this January 2018 revealed that patients who initially chose alternative medicine over conventional lung cancer treatment had a more than twofold increase risk of dying. At the end of the day, alternative treatments should not replace standard evidence-based medicine.” 

Breakthrough treatment

Chemotherapy—or the use of drugs to kill and stunt malignant tumors—is usually thought of as the only treatment for cancer. “The fact is, various options are now available depending on the patient’s diagnosis, preference, and recommendations from the healthcare team. Among these include surgery to remove affected lung tissues, radiation therapy that use high doses of radiation to destroy cancer cells, and targeted drug therapy.”, Dr. Maria Luisa Abesamis-Tiambeng of Cardinal Santos Medical Center emphasized.

Targeted drug therapy may be recommended based on biopsy findings. Through biomarker testing, the biopsy can reveal genetic mutations in cancer cells that can be targeted by drugs designed to zero in on those cellular abnormalities.

Therapeutic advances have made targeted drug therapy the standard of care for personalized medicine in the fight against certain lung cancers. One breakthrough is Tagrisso (Osimertinib), an oral tablet from a class of drugs called tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) that target tumors with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations.

Tagrisso (Osimertinib) is a third-generation EGFR TKI that has shown better precision and power at stopping lung cancer growth and improving patient survival. A double-blind FLAURA study shows that Tagrisso delivers 18.9 months of median progression-free survival, nearly twice as long as older drugs that deliver a median of 10.2 months. Tagrisso (Osimertinib) also reduces the risk of lung cancer metastasis on the central nervous system by 52 percent, and lowers the risk of death by 37 percent based on its preliminary data.

“These results have made Tagrisso (Osimertinib) the recommended and preferred first-line treatment by international guidelines for advanced and metastatic non-small cell lung cancer—the most prevalent type of lung cancer—that tested positive for EGFR,” Dr. Josue adds.

EGFR biomarker testing is available across laboratories and hospitals nationwide including the Chong Hua Hospital, Hi-Precision Diagnostics, Lung Center of the Philippines, Manila HealthTek Inc., National Kidney and Transplant Institute, St. Luke’s Medical Center Global City, and The Medical City.

Learn more about LVNG With Lung Cancer at www.lvngwithphilippines.comor www.lvngph.com.

Vivo creates “treasured moments” with elderly this season of giving

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Global smartphone brand Vivo has played Santa ahead of Christmas as it created treasured moments to the elderly at the God’s Grace Home Care Center (GGHCC) in Quezon City on November 24, 2018.

Vivo employees and God’s Grace Home Care Center founders Grace Fe T. Capital and Rufino M. Capital smile for photos.

GGHCC serves as a home to the elderly, the disabled, and other patients who need palliative care. With this in mind, Vivo as represented by its 24 employees brought cash donation, brand new wheelchairs, commodes, adult diapers, slippers, pillows, and personal hygiene kits for the GGHCC. At least 40 older adults from the GGHCC participated in Vivo’s visit. 

Vivo Philippines HR Director Ms. Nerissa Choy gives her opening remarks at Vivo’s outreach in GGHCC

“We as a brand is known for having high-grade smartphone cameras that understand the value of capturing precious moments in the best ways possible. We wanted to extend this vocation by celebrating Christmas with our elderly at the GGHCC,” Vivo Philippines HR Director Ms. Nerissa Choy said in her opening remarks. 

Vivo also invited its young endorsers Inigo Pascual and Maris Racal to the visit. Inigo serenaded the lolas and the lolos with his hit “Dahil Sa’yo” and his rendition of the Christmas classic “Sana Ngayong Pasko.” He also played the Hep Hep Hooray game with the elderly. 

Inigo Pascual serenades the elderly at the GGHCC.

Maris Racal helps Vivo give out its gifts to the GGHCC elderly. 

Maris, on the other hand, performed her original song “IkawLang Sapat Na” and her cover of “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” during the visit. She also played the Siomai, Siopao, Suman game with the residents of the GGHCC. 

Vivo also collated video greetings from its other endorsers Kisses Delavin, Edward Barber, Maymay Entrata, Darren Espanto, Kathryn Bernardo, and Daniel Padilla.

Vivo Philippines HR Director Ms. Neri Choy, hands out its Php20,000 cash donation to the God’s Grace Home Care Center Grace Fe T. Capital and Rufino M. Capital. With them is Vivo endorser Maris Racal.

Vivo previously extended help to Cottoleng Filipino, Habitat for Humanity, and the AFP Medical Center (V. Luna General Hospital). 

About Vivo

A global smartphone brand focused on introducing perfect sound quality and ultimate photography with cutting-edge technology, Vivo develops innovative and stylish products for young people. We now have over two hundred million users and are one of the preferred brands of young people around the world. As an Official Sponsor of the FIFA World Cup™, Vivo believes in the importance of encouraging young people to embrace self-expression and an energetic lifestyle. In the Philippines, Vivo is the top 3 smartphone brand in terms of market share with 1.5 million users nationwide. 

For inquiries about Vivo, visit the Vivo website at vivoglobal.ph or check out their Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/vivophil), 

Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/vivo_philippines/), 

and Twitter (https://twitter.com/vivo_phil) accounts.​

Julie Anne San Jose: The embodiment of Vivo's edge

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Singer-songwriter and actress Julie Anne San Josehas come a long way with her talents. With a career that has spanned more than a decade, Julie Anne has worn many hats: from acting in soaps to producing albums to singing and writing her own songs. Young, beautiful, and full of ambitions, Julie Anne makes the perfect Vivo endorser as she embodies what the brand is: Youthful, beautiful, edgy, and a relentless innovator.

Julie Anne started out very young; no wonder at the age of 24, she already has a multitude of accomplishments under her belt.

“I started singing at two and a half years old. It was my grandparents’ idea to pursue my singing, to pursue being an artist. Then, they encouraged me to join various pageants like Little Miss Philippines. But I stopped for a while because I need to continue my schooling,” she said as she reminisced her ups and downs in the industry.

“I’m just very glad and super-blessed that I have the chance now to pursue my grandparents’ dream and my dream as well. Ever since I was a kid, I’m really passionate about music,” Julie Anne added.

Julie Anne says it’s important to keep innovating herself to offer fresh takes on her craft.

With a relatively long career in entertainment, Julie Anne never fails to put herself on the spotlight despite the many new artists that come along. In her performances and TV appearances, Julie Anne consistently exudes beauty and confidence as she reinvents her appearance and continuously hone her talents.

Vivo is very much the same. The brand relentlessly aims to produce phones with designs that are aesthetically pleasing and highly functional. Sleek and chic, Vivo smartphones are a powerhouse both in specs and design.

“Vivo is a super nice brand. I’m really into selfies. I’m just really glad that Vivo got me as one of its endorsers. I’m just happy to be part of the family… I love Vivo’s features like the In-Display Fingerprint scanner and the camera and the Face ID access,”Julie Anne said.

Julie Anne is a proud Vivo endorser.

This is why Vivo and Julie Anne are made for each other. Just like the young songstress, Vivo always reinvents itself with new technology that gives the brand a competitive edge amongst all its other contemporaries. A prolific innovator, Vivo is always ahead of its competitors in terms of cutting-edge technology.

“I’m really looking forward to more of Vivo’s new smartphones and technology in the future and share them to the youth,” Julie Anne said.

It is exciting to see a bright, young celebrity and a respected global brand collaborate. There is so much in store and to look forward to with Julie Anne and her campaigns for Vivo.

For inquiries about Vivo, visit the Vivo website at vivoglobal.ph or check out their 

Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/vivophil), 

Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/vivo_philippines/), 

and Twitter (https://twitter.com/vivo_phil) accounts.

The limited edition Vivo V11i Fairy Pink shows you why Pink is Power

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Pink is womanly and charming, warm and intimate. Pink tempers the fire of red with a mellow loving spirit. Pink calms and heartens our sensibilities, calming negative feelings of aggression, animosity, and cynicism. Pink composes the nerves which brings an overall feeling of love and tenderness. 

But pink does not always represent femininity or superficiality. Pink, on the other hand, has become a symbol of feminine power with the color associated with female-centered advocacies such as championing breast cancer survivors and warriors against gender-biases. 

Pink is both a symbol of femininity and power. Here are the five reasons there is power in pink: 

1. Pink is a color of Support, Unity, and Survival – Pink Ribbon 

Image source: Susan G. Komen® 

A pink ribbon symbolizes breast cancer awareness. The breast cancer awareness pink ribbon emerged in 1982 under the initiative of Susan G. Komen of the Cure®, the largest, best-funded breast cancer organization in the United States. The first breast cancer survivor program was launched during the Komen National Race for the Cure® where survivors initially wore black and white. Late that year, pink was used as the official Komen color. In 1991, pink ribbons were distributed to all breast cancer survivors of the Komen New York City Race for the Cure®. 

The pink ribbon signifies the promise Komen founder Nancy G. Brinker made to her sister Susan G. Komen on what she could do to fight breast cancer. Today, the pink ribbon stands not only as a symbol of female strength and spirit against the disease but also as a testimonial that pink is powerful. 

2. Pink is a color of Friendship 

Image source: Zohra Orchestra 

Bring together friendship and unity and they can move mountains. The power of female partnerships has shaped societies and changed the world and history for generations on end. One important example of this strong female friendship is the Zohra Orchestra, an amazing group of female friends from Afghanistan who became the nation’s first all-female musical group. Under the strict Taliban rule in the 1990s, music was thought of immoral and, as such, were banned especially for women. But the Zohra Orchestra ignored perils to their life and constant threats and dangers to embrace their rights as women and their love for music. 

The Haenyeo are also an example of how a team of women could bring progress not only within their household but in the community as well. The Haenyeo are a group of Korean women divers, all aged over 50, who live the island of Jeju in South Korea. Diving is seen as a woman's profession on the island that so many Korean households in Jeju have seen a complete role reversal of the genders, where men stay home to look after the children while women work for the family. These women have ran the economy of Jeju and have since built a tight-knit community. 

Here, women have challenged gender roles and have done so together as a strong band of game-changers, very much like how pink is seen as solely feminine but also serves to symbolize strength in women in so many ways. 

3. Pink is a color of Self-Love 

Image source: Pixabay 

Pink also represents beauty and self-love. The beauty of a woman has, time and gain, proved powerful when it comes to changing the course of life and history. Cleopatra, the queen of Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, was famous not only as an acme of intelligence but mostly because of her surpassing beauty. Helen of Troy, with a superior beauty that popularly “launched a thousand ships”, ran away with the Prince of Troy which erupted a 10-year war between the Greeks and the Trojans in the latter’s desperate battle to win her back. 

Beauty in women has been a subject of admiration for poets, artists, and even powerful men in politics. Their skin of blushed pink is an indication of health and charm and the roses and corals in their clothes and bosom exudes femininity. 

The power of make-up has also, time and again, proved to be an effective agent when it comes to female world domination. The make-up revolution has placed women in the pedestal, not just for their beauty but also for their power to stir the world and its modern view on the modern women. 

4. Pink is a color of Feminine Pride 

Pink is the new black in fashion. Women in the workforce has worn their colors loud and proud—feminine as they may be—but minus falling into the cookie cutter image of being the inferior gender in the rat race of the work world. Wearing pink and other colors of femininity in the office allow women to show that they are unapologetically embracing feminine strengths while conquering the world. In the world of grays and browns, pink is a bold statement to make that women who wear them are out to get their goals and missions and get things done. 

5. Pink is a color of Powerful and Smooth Performance 

Choreographer George Balachine once said that “ballet is woman”. Ballet shows the sublimity of the female form and the grandeur of ballet is something that women ballerinas have impressed upon in the world of arts. In the stage of ballet, the woman rules. Elegant, graceful yet strong, ballerinas in their pink tutus epitomize femininity with a purpose. 

Much like the femininity of pink and all things women, Vivo’s limited edition V11i in Fairy Pink is delicate and chic but boasts of powerful features underneath its hood. Its smooth performance complements its beauty. 

Delicate-looking? Yes. Powerful? Of course! The Vivo V11i in Fairy Pink got a strong core. 

The Vivo V11i has AI dual rear cameras which offers an augmented perspective with the second lens allowing for improvement of sharpness. The ever popular Bokeh effect enhances photograph focus with a blurry effect thrown in for added drama. Its 16MP + 5MP dual rear camera fusion increases the amount of perspective, giving a near 3D image effect on photos. The superior photo quality is supported by Dual Pixel Sensors which boosts light sensitivity and focusing speeds. 

It also has a 25MP front camera that renders high quality selfies. It is also equipped with the AI Face Beauty, the AI Selfie Lighting specs, and the newly-updated AI Face Shaping technology that adds oomph to every shot. 

The smartphone is also popular for its gaming specs. The Vivo V11i has an Artificial Intelligence (AI) assistant packed in which aids in its superior gaming performance. With the Game Mode on, the CPU and RAM are automatically optimized, allowing for an uninterrupted gaming experience. A button for auto-rejecting calls and temporarily blocking of background calls are the features under Game Mode, with added dynamic specs such as the new-generation 2.0 GHz octa-core AI processor, and 128 GB ROM + 4 GB RAM which allows for smoother gaming action. 

This beauty is a steal at only Php15,999! 

Do not be fooled by the Vivo V11i’s outer beauty because it is an overall powerful phone in one splendid compact. 

Experience the power of pink with the limited edition Vivo V1i in Fairy Pink all yours for only P15,999 available at Vivo kiosks and concept stores and exclusively online on Shopee. 

About Vivo 

A global smartphone brand focused on introducing perfect sound quality and ultimate photography with cutting-edge technology, Vivo develops innovative and stylish products for young people. We now have over two hundred million users and are one of the preferred brands of young people around the world. As an Official Sponsor of the FIFA World Cup™, Vivo believes in the importance of encouraging young people to embrace self-expression and an energetic lifestyle. In the Philippines, Vivo is the top 3 smartphone brand in terms of market share with 1.5 million users nationwide. 

For inquiries about Vivo, visit the Vivo website at vivoglobal.ph or check out their Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/vivophil), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/vivo_philippines/), and Twitter (https://twitter.com/vivo_phil) accounts. 

Vivo Y91 is now available on shelves just in time for Christmas

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Global smartphone brand Vivo is making sure its loyal patrons will get the best for Christmas. It has released the all-new Vivo Y91 that delivers the same well-loved specs from the smartphone maker, plus a bigger batter capacity for limitless enjoyment. 

The latest Y-series unit delivers a futuristic design, smarter photography capabilities, a powerful performance, and a more seamless user experience. 

Smartphones have never been this fun with the high capacity battery-equipped Vivo Y91. 

Futuristic design 

The Vivo Y91 has a trendy 6.22-inc Halo FullView™ Display that let the more details shine with its 88.6% screen-to-body ratio. The 3D curves fit the palm perfectly, for an experience that’s truly irresistible. In addition to a smart design, the Y91 has smart hand gesture controls that make the large display effortless to handle. 

The smartphone also has a color gradient that dazzles as the brand continues to expand its design. The Y91 adopts the trendy back-cover gloss painting process that intricately blending hues invoke the colors of the universe in Starry Black and Ocean Blue. 

Smarter photography capabilities 

The Y91 also has a sharp, 8-megapixel front-camera that captures more facial details. Its AI algorithm detects your gender, age, skin tone, skin texture, and lighting environment, further enhanced by the AI Face Beauty capabilities. The smartphone also delivers a fresher selfie experience with the AR Stickers that add flair to any shot. 

Vivo’s newest offering also has an AI-powered dual rear camera with the 13MP + 2MP sensors that optimize depth-of-field information at par with professional-grade bokeh shots. 

Powerful performance 

Even with the bigger 4030mAh battery capacity, Vivo further improved the performance of the Y91 is its exclusive, smart-energy power management system. Moreover, it has a 3GB RAM, and octa-core processor with a 12nm design. It has a 32GB of storage space expandable up to 256GB that gives users the freedom to download whatever apps they want. 

To make unlocking convenient, the Vivo Y91 has given users two ways to access their smartphones—through the rear fingerprint scanner and the Face Access. 

More seamless user experience 

The Y91 is powered by the Jovi Smart Assistant that can turn the smartphone into anyone’s best buddy. It can count the daily steps and calories, tell the results of the games of the user’s favorite sports teams, notify users about weather updates, and advise users take a rest who are working late into the night. 

It also supports Vivo’s thumbprint Smart Split functions. A simple, three-fingered swipe splits the 6.22-inch screen in two so users can chat with their friends while simultaneously watching videos. It supports s Facebook, Line, Messages, Viber, WeChat, WhatsApp, BBM, Play Movies & TV, YouTube, Video, MX Player, VLC for Android, Google Maps, WPS Office, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Chrome, Gmail, and more. 

The Vivo Y91 is available on Lazada and Shopee for only P9,999. 

About Vivo 

A global smartphone brand focused on introducing perfect sound quality and ultimate photography with cutting-edge technology, Vivo develops innovative and stylish products for young people. We now have over two hundred million users and are one of the preferred brands of young people around the world. As an Official Sponsor of the FIFA World Cup™, Vivo believes in the importance of encouraging young people to embrace self-expression and an energetic lifestyle. In the Philippines, Vivo is the top 3 smartphone brand in terms of market share with 1.5 million users nationwide. 

For inquiries about Vivo, visit the Vivo website at vivoglobal.ph or check out their Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/vivophil), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/vivo_philippines/), and Twitter (https://twitter.com/vivo_phil) accounts.