The Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) has recorded a significant reduction in the number of children abandoning cancer treatment from 2004, an official said. In 2004, it was 90 percent abandonment but as of last year, the figure was only two percent.
Dr. Mae Dolendo, head of the SPMC Integrated Cancer Care Committee and the Children’s Cancer Institute, said during the I-Speak Media Forum on Thursday that treatment abandonment has dropped drastically over the years, thanks to strategies implemented by the hospital, with support from government and non-government organizations.
“Ang treatment abandonment mao gyud na siya ang pinaka-kontra sa cure ng bata, kay kung mu-stop na og treatment ang bata mubalik ang iyang cancer tanan nga ginagastos nato back to zero gyud to tanan, wasted, tapos ang pasyente maglisud gyud ug save, pero because of the assistance sa gobyerno sa non-governmental, there is a community, we have brought down our treatment abandonment. Noong nag-umpisa ako around 2004, almost 90 percent ang treatment abandonment ibig sabihin kung may 100 ka nga pasyente 90 gyud ang dili mubalik, but now when we were looking at it sa 2024, two percent nalang ang treatment abandonment,” she said.
Dolendo also highlighted the growing number of cancer survivors who are now adults.
“Ug makita ninyo daghan napud tag survivors naa na gani mga grown up na survivors naa naman gani nanalo sa beauty contest. You’ll realize bisag pobre and bata or pamilya kung ma-provide nato siya og resources na makahuman siyag treatment mabuhi gyud siya ma save gyud nato sya og ma-save nimo dili kadtong kinabuhi sa bata but also ang iyahang future ug kadto iyahang dream, (We have many survivors already” Dolendo and some of them are now grown ups. One even won a beauty contest. You’ll realize that even how poor one is if we can provide the resources and finish the treatment, we can save the child),” she said.
SPMC offers a range of services for children with cancer, including a centralized care assistance area, free laboratories, CT scans, and PET scans. These are funded by the national government and charity organizations such as the House of Hope. The hospital also trains pediatric oncologists and helps equip other hospitals to provide cancer care.
Currently, SPMC has 38 beds dedicated to children with cancer. For outpatient services, it accommodates 50 to 60 patients daily and ensures that scheduled check-ups are strictly followed.
In terms of cases, SPMC recorded 400 patients in 2019. By 2024, the number decreased to 320, which Dolendo attributed to the availability of more facilities across Mindanao providing cancer care.
She added that they look forward to further strengthening treatment for childhood cancer with the upcoming opening of the Nuclear Medicine Institute at SPMC.
Dolendo also emphasized that SPMC continues to collaborate with various groups and agencies to advance children’s cancer advocacy.
As part of Children’s Cancer Awareness Month this September, a “Dive of Hope” was organized. Before the month ends, a “Mission on Bike” awareness campaign for children with cancer will also take place, where bikers will ride from Davao City to Tagum and Maragusan. CIO
