QUEZON CITY, Philippines – October 2, 2025 – As the Philippines and the world enter Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Philippine Cancer Society (PCS) is seizing this crucial opportunity to intensify its nationwide battle against the top cancers affecting Filipino women. The PCS has been doing Breast cancer screening and early detection mobile clinics, and now is also proud, in addition to the Breast Cancer ACT NOW movement, to officially announce the massive expansion and launch of its critical initiative: the "ACT NOW A.C.T.I.V.E. (Accelerating Cervical Cancer Treatment, Immunization & Vaccine Education)" campaign.
This launch event, strategically held at the beginning of the month dedicated to breast cancer awareness, is a powerful mobilization effort. It combines comprehensive, on-the-ground training for a new cohort of Patient Navigators with a high-impact Public Awareness Campaign to directly address the urgent need for early cancer detection. The event was held on October 2, 2025, at the Sequoia Hotel in Quezon City, featuring key leaders from the Philippine Cancer Society, dedicated patient advocates, and inspiring cancer survivors.
The Urgency of Early Detection: A National Crisis
Cancer remains the second leading cause of death in the Philippines. Among Filipino women, breast and cervical cancers are devastatingly common, representing a significant public health crisis. Statistics are grim: an estimated 11,857 deaths annually are due to breast cancer, a staggering figure that means 32 Filipinas die every single day. Globally, the loss is even more acute, with one life lost every two minutes to cervical cancer.
A major challenge for the Philippine healthcare system is the late diagnosis of most patients. Limited access to screening services, especially for marginalized populations, means that the majority of Filipino women are diagnosed at advanced, harder-to-treat stages. This is a disparity the PCS is determined to eliminate. With early detection, the 5-year relative survival rate for breast cancer is an exceptional 99%. However, because 65% of cases in the Philippines are diagnosed at advanced stages, the national survival rate is significantly lower.
Global Alignment, Local Action
The ACT NOW A.C.T.I.V.E. campaign directly aligns with ambitious global public health targets, including the World Health Organization (WHO) Cervical Cancer Strategy and the Global Breast Cancer Initiative. These international roadmaps set goals to avert millions of cancer cases and deaths by 2030 and beyond. PCS's expanded initiative is a decisive local step towards ensuring that every Filipino woman has access to timely, life-saving care that meets these global standards.
"Early detection saves lives – this is not just a slogan, but a medical reality," said a PCS Representative. "Our expanded ACT NOW campaign bridges the gap between sophisticated screening technology and the communities that need it most. The new A.C.T.I.V.E. initiative is a crucial step towards implementing the '30-Day Screening to Treatment' model, ensuring no Filipino woman dies from a cancer that could have been prevented or treated early."
Since its initial launch in 2023, the flagship ACT NOW program has already demonstrated significant impact by deploying mobile cancer screening clinics for breast, cervical, and prostate cancer, successfully screening over 18,000 individuals through the PCS Patient Navigation Program (PNAP). "We’re not waiting for patients to come to us; we are actively bringing evidence-based cancer screening directly to their communities via our mobile units," a PCS Representative added.
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
The event served as a training ground for new patient navigators and a rallying point for community advocates. The program featured:
- Training Modules: In-depth sessions on medical aspects of breast and cervical cancer, patient navigation best practices, and community engagement.
- Launch of "ACT NOW A.C.T.I.V.E.": An official unveiling of the new campaign focused on accelerating cervical cancer treatment and expanding immunization efforts.
- Inspirational Survivor's Story: A powerful testimony from a cancer survivor, sharing their journey to inspire hope and resilience.
- Interactive Activities: Fun and engaging elements like a "Myth Buster Game" and a symbolic "Commitment wall" to promote learning and commitment.
- Networking and Call to Action: Opportunities for participants to connect with peers and join a unified "Protect your tomorrow, ACT NOW!" pledge.
An Overflowing Commitment Wall
Program
Breast, Cervical, ACT NOW ACTIVE Launch and Campaign Awareness
