In line with the Independence Day celebration this June, Hope from Within (HFW) a multi-stakeholder cancer advocacy, spearheaded by MSD in the Philippines held the “Kalayaan ng Kababaihan mula sa Kanser” Women’s Cancers Summit. The event aimed to bring attention to the plight of women afflicted with cancer, to empower them, and to amplify their voices as they battle the disease head-on.

One of the esteemed guests who graced the stage and shared her story is actress and host Dianne Medina. As she highlighted her own mother’s journey with breast cancer, she emphasized that early detection is one of the best ways women can help beat it.

She then made the call that women should be fearless in learning about their breast cancer condition – from being diligent with their breast self-exams to being proactive with their doctors in finding out whether they have a higher risk of getting this disease.

Hope from Within continues to advocate for every Filipino to get better and more equitable access to cancer care. This year, the call is for the full and proper implementation of the National Integrated Cancer Control Act (NICCA), which aims to provide cancer patients with quality health care services, increase access to innovative treatment options, and provide their families with financial risk protection, among other cancer-relevant items.

For more information on how you can be part of this movement, click this link and sign the petition: https://www.change.org/p/department-of-health-sign-the-petition-to-fully-implement-the-national-integrated-cancer-control-act-nicca-now.