The Philippine Cancer Society, Inc. was founded 65 years ago by the renowned civic-minded individuals headed by Gen. Hanz Menzi, Dr. Constantino Manahan, Dr. Jose Y. Fores, Dr. Basilio Valdes and Dolores Paterno de Tuazon. Their main desire was to promote, develop and advance the fight against cancer. In 1958, it pioneered the putting up of a Cancer Detection and Diagnostic Center which was built on a 3,733 sqm lot donated by the Concepcion Paterno Memorial Foundation.
PCS established the first Cancer Tumor Registry of the Philippines which was later on transformed into a population-based cancer registry. PCS data are included in the publications of the International Association of Cancer Registries (IACR) for “Cancer Incidence in Five Continents” and the Online cancer statistics GLOBOCAN of the World Health Organization International Agency for Research on Cancer.
Over the years, the PCS evolved from a research-based advocate to a resource –based organization with direct patient care services. It founded the Hospice Program for the terminally-ill cancer patients under the leadership of the then PCS president Mamita Pardo de Tavera. It hosted numerous local and international conferences and summits geared toward raising awareness and lobbying on cancer related issues. The activities it hosted/initiated include National Cancer Support Group Summit; Formation of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Council of the Philippines, (NHPCCP); Relay for Life (RFL) annual events; 7th Asia Pacific Hospice Conference; 6th Asian Clinical Oncology Society (ACOS) conference; the Philippine Hepatitis – B and Liver Cancer Summit and the Colo-Rectal Cancer Multi- Disciplinary Experts Round Table Discussions. PCS is also an advocate of a 100% smoke free environment, promotes the four pillars of a healthy lifestyle: balanced nutrition, physical activities, limit alcohol intake and no to e cigarette smoking. It also actively lobbied for the passage of the National Integrated Cancer Control Act (NICCA) which became a Legislative Act in Feb. 14,2019
Since its inception, more than million cancer patients, stakeholders, families and communities benefited from its various programs and services.
