As part of its 28th anniversary celebration, St. Frances Cabrini Medical Center (SFCMC) conducted a seminar on LUNG and LIVER cancer on July 20, 2026, attended by Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) from Santo Tomas, Tanauan, Malvar, and Calamba.

Early detection remains one of the strongest defenses against lung and liver cancer, as emphasized by Pulmonologist Dr. Cynthia Talla and Gastroenterologist Dr. Roy Gonzales during the seminar. Their message is now strongly supported by the 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐘𝐀𝐊𝐀𝐏, which makes cancer screening accessible at no cost to Filipino patients. With 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐬 𝐋𝐨𝐰‑𝐃𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐂𝐓 (𝐋𝐃𝐂𝐓) 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡‑𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫, as recommended by Dr. Talla, and 𝐀𝐥𝐩𝐡𝐚-𝐅𝐞𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐢𝐧 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 every six months for high‑risk liver patients, as advised by Dr. Gonzales communities can detect disease at its earliest, most treatable stages.

This is crucial because lung cancer linked to smoking and liver cancer associated with hepatitis, cirrhosis, alcohol use, and metabolic diseases often show symptoms only when already advanced. By removing financial barriers, PhilHealth empowers barangay health workers and families to prioritize regular screening, enabling timely diagnosis, reducing treatment expenses, and ultimately saving lives.