The incidence of breast cancer within the Philippines continues to rise, positioning it as probably the most urgent health concerns amongst Filipino women today. In 2022, the World Health Organization Global Cancer Observatory recorded 33,079 recent cases within the country, making it probably the most common cancer amongst women.
Despite these numbers, health workers emphasize that the narrative around breast cancer is changing—from one being defined by fear to 1 increasingly shaped by early detection, precision medicine, and survivorship.
“Over the past decade, breast cancer awareness intiatives—led by healthcare institutions, advocacy groups, and each private and non-private sectors—have significantly improved the general public’s understanding of screening, early detection, timely consultation, and prompt treatment,” Philippine Cancer Society President Dr. Corazon A. Ngelangel said. “More women now recognize the importance of breast self-examination, clinical breast examination, screening imaging via ultrasound/mammography, and prompt diagnostic biopsy seek the advice of.”
“Particularly, with early detection, survival rates proceed to enhance,” Dr. Ngelangel added. “And patients now have access to more personalized and evidence-based treatment strategies than ever before, aided by foundational tools in precision medicine.”
For patients like Jocelyn Gesmundo, early detection is life-changing.
A retired IT project manager at 60, Ms. Gesmundo had already built a disciplined routine round her health. She had undergone regular mammograms and ultrasounds for greater than 15 years, motivated by a robust family history of cancer.
“After I became a mother, I made sure I did regular checkups,” Ms. Gesmundo shared. “It was something I committed to.”
It was during one in every of the routine screenings that doctors detected a change. A previously monitored lump had grown, and one other appeared near her lymph node, prompting immediate biopsy.
“Two days after my ultrasound, the doctor called me back. That’s after I knew something was different.”
She then was diagnosed early-stage breast cancer.
Personalized for precision
Breast cancer diagnosis today relies on what clinicians call triple assessment: a mix of clinical examination, imaging (resembling mammography or ultrasound), and biopsy confirmation.
Beyond diagnosis, the classification of breast cancer has also turn out to be more sophisticated. There are three major subtypes: hormone receptor-positive, HER2-positive, and triple-negative breast cancer, each requiring distinct treatment strategies.
“What’s essential now’s that these types are far more treatable than before,” surgical oncologist Dr. Emmeline Cua delos Santos explains. “Now we have targeted therapies and higher chemotherapy options.”
This shift reflects a broader transformation in oncology: the move away from one-size-fits-all treatment towards personalized, evidence-based care.
As Dr. Jose Rhoel C. de Leon, one in every of the board of directors on the Philippine College of Surgeons Cancer Commission Foundation, highlights, “We’re seeing firsthand how innovations, resembling improved imaging techniques, minimally invasive biopsy procedures, de-escalation of radical procedures like breast conserving surgery and sentinel lymph node procedures, in addition to precision diagnostics are helping patients receive more accurate diagnoses and tailored surgical management.”
The role of genomics
At the guts of contemporary breast cancer care is a significant shift: from standardized treatment protocols to highly individualized care.
“We’re going towards the era of personalized medicine—taking a look at molecular components that determine what’s best for a patient based on their DNA,” said medical oncologist Dr. Frances Victoria Que.
Beyond confirming the presence of cancer, today’s diagnostics aim to know how a tumor behaves. This includes identifying mutations, protein expressions, and reoccurrence risks—aspects that directly influence treatment planning.
“For each patient, we assess their risk over time,” Dr. Que explains. “From there, we determine whether treatments like chemotherapy will actually provide profit.”
With this recent approach, patients are now stratified into risk categories, allowing oncologists to de-escalate treatment accordingly.
Early breast cancer patients with small tumors which are hormone receptor positive and HER2 negative could be tested if their genomic profile points to low risk. “If a patient is low-risk based on genomic testing, we will safely skip it [chemotherapy] and proceed with less aggressive treatment,” Dr. Que emphasized. A healthy discussion with doctors is vital.
In Ms. Gesmundo’s case, genomic testing became a turning point in her cancer journey.
After her diagnosis, she underwent a precision genomic test used to determine the likelihood of cancer reoccurrence. The outcomes classified her as low risk, meaning she could safely avoid chemotherapy.
“That was very essential to me,” she recalled. “I saw how difficult chemotherapy was for my father. So, if there was something I could skip, I hope it could be that.”
“A cancer diagnosis brings a number of anxiety,” Dr. Que said. “But when patients are given clear, personalized treatment plans, it helps reduce that uncertainty and offers them a way of control.”
That sense of reassurance prolonged beyond Ms. Gesmundo herself. She also underwent genetic testing to determine whether her cancer might be passed on to her children. The outcomes got here back negative.
Navigating treatments
While genomics informs treatment decisions, doctors stress that care stays a collaborative process—one which integrates clinical expertise, patient preferences, and emotional readiness.
“It’s not one-size-fits all,” said Dr. de Los Santos. “We tailor-fit treatment based on the style of cancer, its stage, and what’s best for the patient, even considering what gives them peace of mind.”
This features a wide selection of options: from breast-conserving surgery to full mastectomy, in addition to less invasive procedures resembling sentinel lymph node biopsy. Advances in oncoplastic surgery now even allow patients with larger tumors to preserve their breasts while ensuring effective cancer control. Systemic treatments are then layered onto this surgical foundation.
By investigating the person’s genomic profile, we will tailor fit the treatment.
Awareness, hesitancy, and misinformation
Despite these advancements, nonetheless, one in every of the most important challenges in breast cancer care stays awareness. Misconceptions about breast cancer contributes to delays in screening and diagnosis, Dr. Que observed.
“There’s still a number of misinformation surrounding cancer,” she explained. “Many individuals think it’s a death sentence, when in point of fact, early-stage cancers are sometimes very treatable—and even curable.”
“The hesitancy or fear won’t get you anywhere, it could even cost your life,” she emphasized.
From survival to empowerment
Ms. Gesmundo’s cancer journey has reshaped her outlook in lasting ways.
“What you actually have is the current,” she reflected. “You learn to be kinder to others and to yourself.”
Her days are actually marked by intentional living: spending time with family and reconnecting with friends.
She also offers a reminder often forgotten in conversations about women’s health: the importance of self-care.
“As women, especially moms, we are inclined to tackle all the pieces,” she said. “But you furthermore may must handle yourself. Because, whenever you do, you’re higher capable of take care of the people you like. You mostly have a selection in the way you face it. Select to see the positive—even when it’s difficult.”
Doctors reinforce this message by emphasizing that the convergence of early detection, advanced diagnostics, and personalized treatment has transformed the breast cancer landscape.
Ms. Gesmundo, for her part, leaves a message of urgency and hope.
“Make certain you get tested. The sooner that is detected, the higher the prognosis.”
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