Experts are urging a shift in the long-held perception of cancer as a “death sentence,” highlighting advancements in cancer diagnosis and treatment, as well as collaborative efforts to improve patients’ lives. “First, there are innovations and advancements in treatment, diagnostics, and prevention screening—actually, throughout the entire patient journey. Everyone is working on improving the patient experience,” Dr.
Herdee Gloriane C. Luna, President of the Philippine Society of Oncologists (PSO) said in an interview during the media conference last Friday. One of the new advancements in cancer diagnostics and treatment highlighted during the media conference is “biomarker testing,” which was previously accessible only in other countries at high costs.
This advancement allows more targeted and personalized cancer care as each patient’s unique biomarker pattern can guide more accurate diagnoses and treatments tailored to their specific needs. Three biomarkers- PD-L1, EGFR, and ALK- have been unified in a lung panel test to benefit cancer patients for the first time. Hi-Precision Diagnostics is one of the diagnostic centers spearheading the accessibility of biomarker testing to eligible patients.
They collaborate with various cancer facilities across regions and working with oncology pharmaceutical companies. “This partnership has paved the way to provide biomarker testing accessible to eligible patients and in most cases at no cost,” Mariano Jon Atacador,.