DAVAO DEL NORTE (PIA)- Cancer medical experts of Davao Regional Medical Center based in the City of Tagum, have pointed out the need for a community focal on cancer care for early detection and for better case management.
Guesting in the Cancer episode of Pakigsayod Serbisyo Alang sa Katawhang Pilipino, Dr. Shalimar C. Cortez, oncologist and unit head of the Infusion Unit of DRMC viewed as much better approach to cancer care if patients would have someone to guide them on what to do right from the grassroots level.
Giving a background on cancer care components: prevention, early detection and palliative care, Dr. Cortez expressed hopes that the local government units can help the hospital-based medical experts on cancer care, provide interventions for patients.
“Mas gwapo kung gikan mismo sa ilaha, naa nay screening na mahitabo. Kay kung ma screen na nimo na ang pasyente, madala sa amoa sa Cancer Center sayo pa siya, so matambalan dayon siya ug dili mahadlok ang atong mga pasyente nga ‘ay basta cancer, mamatay nako’. (Much better if from their end, screening has been done. If the patients can already be screened, brought to us at the Cancer Center at an early stage, we can provide them early medical intervention and the patient would no longer fear of dying from cancer),” he explained referring to the Mindanao Cancer Center based in DRMC.
Dr. Cortez revealed that DRMC has an assigned personnel referred to as “Cancer Navigator” to guide cancer patients on what to do and what course of case management to undergo one after the other.
“It has always been by prayer to have a community connection, not just for the hospital waiting for the patient but it has to be a network from the community and the hospital,” he said.
He revealed the aspiration of the hospital-based cancer care community to improve the cancer case management that is founded on early detection, and better understanding of cancer patients on cancer treatment providing them “ease and confidence” to seek medical intervention.
“The problem, yung pasyente dumarating (is that the patient usually came), late stage na because they didn’t know kung saan sila pupunta (where to go). And pupunta nalang sila kung talagang may problem na (And they would go when there already is a problem). It’s really an emergency cases or a crisis na (really),” he explained.
Dr. Cortez envisioned that grassroots or community cancer navigator as someone who knows the health situation of people in every household of the community.
The navigator is someone who would prod patients to seek medical intervention, assuring them that finances for cancer treatment is not much a problem as the Malasakit Center is providing substantial subsidy.
If medical findings says it’s a cancer case, that community cancer navigator is also expected to lead and guide the patient to the Cancer Center and to connect with his hospital-based counterpart.
“So that the patient will feel at ease. Na pagdating nya doon (Once they arrive at the ospital), they will be taken care of. Kasi ‘yong fear kasi ng ibang pasyente pagdating sa (The fear of some patients is that when they arrive at) DRMC, baka pabayaan sila kasi madaming pasyente (they would be left alone due to many patients to take care of) but that’s not the case,” Dr. Cortez explained.
Meanwhile Dr. Suzette Solis, section head of Hospice and Palliative Medicine of DRMC emphasized the relevance of early cancer detection for “our medical oncologists to do better case management.”
She pointed out the “greater probability” of the cancer patient to survive when detected early and case management is run at an early stage.
“Lahi naman gud atong point of care ana pag late stages na. it’s more on supportive care nalang siya. So dili najud siya on the curative side,” she said. (PIA XI/ Jeanevive Duron-Abangan)
