As early as October 2008, Jojo Flores, an electronics and communications engineering graduate, has recalled having a mouth sore and since he would get a mouth sore once in a while, he thought it would eventually go away.
“I find out that if a sore does not heal in two weeks, you need to seek medical attention quickly as it could be a sign of something worse. I didn’t do it within three months; I took it for granted. I even went on a business trip to the US,” Flores said. That time, he had difficulty speaking, eating, and a painful tongue.
The lump in his tongue was taken for biopsy. He was diagnosed with stage four tongue cancer. With a quick internet search, one will find out that head and neck cancer (HNC) is a disfiguring disease.
His physician immediately scheduled him for surgery and prescribed treatment that included six cycles of chemotherapy concurrent with 30 sessions of radiation therapy.
“All in all, my surgery, treatment, and medication cost around P2.5 million back in 2009,” he said. “Cancer is synonymous with suffering in all facets of life — physical, emotional, psychological, and financial.”
When a patient is diagnosed with cancer, expect that life can never be the same again. Some survivors may be able to get back close to who or what they were pre-cancer, but some won’t. “Definitely, you will take on a new trajectory. Cancer is a life-changing event,” Flores underscored.
During those difficult times, Flores knew he could never do it alone. However, he could not find a HNC support group in the Philippines. He had to join a group (via online) based in California.
“I personally think one of the reasons why HNC support groups do not last long is that HNC patients tend to clam up,” he said. Flores knew that family support is important for cancer patients, but not everyone can easily rely on their family.
“Not everyone has a family, nor can every family provide the needed support for whatever reason or reasons. This is where the importance of patient support groups come in,” he noted.
Flores is one of the staunch advocates for the full implementation of the provisions of the National Integrated Cancer Control Act (NICCA). He understands the burden of the disease, and he was grateful that his previous employer helped him finance his treatment.
However, the majority of HNC patients do not have access to treatment and medication.
“As far as the cancer patient journey is concerned, NICCA can help address the whole cancer care. It’s very comprehensive. The law provides not only treatment but awareness, diagnosis, prevention, and survivorship, among many other items that have to do with cancer management,” he said.
“Cancer is a race against time. The government is not alone in this fight. Private entities are willing to help. We just need to harness this,” he said.
Hope from Within, a multi-stakeholder cancer advocacy campaign led by MSD in the Philippines, supports Flores and fellow HNC patients and survivors.
This 2022, HFW is organizing events to bring together experts from the head and neck cancer space, representatives from the Department of Health as well as HNC patient ambassadors to raise awareness about HNC and provide reliable information about its risks, and symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options.
Through this partnership, HFW strengthens its commitment to renewing hope and reinforcing the fight for Filipino patients suffering from HNC.
