August 13, 2022

1400H - 1500H
Via Zoom

Empowerment
Health Issue objective - for
Course – laypeople to have an
CANCER understanding of
CURABILITY & CANCER CURABILITY
SURVIVORSHIP & SURVIVORSHIP in
their health
management.
 ROJoson PEP Talk
Empowerment
Health Issue objective - for I have a Patient
Course – laypeople to have an Empowerment
CANCER understanding of Program in which I
CANCER CURABILITY like to empower the
CURABILITY & lay people or
SURVIVORSHIP & SURVIVORSHIP in
patients to take
their health
control in the
management. management of
their health.
 There are 3 courses
in the PEP Talk.
I completed the Core
Course on October 9,
2021.
 From October 23,
2021 onwards, I have
been tackling Health
Disorder and Health
Issue Courses. This
may take 3 years or
longer.
 My PEP TALK today
is entitled:
Empowerment
Health Issue objective - for
CANCER
Course – laypeople to have an
understanding of CURABILITY &
CANCER SURVIVORSHIP.
CURABILITY & CANCER CURABILITY
SURVIVORSHIP & SURVIVORSHIP in
their health This is part of the
management. Health Issue Course.
 Contents of CANCER CURABILITY &
Health Issue SURVIVORSHIP
Course – • What is a cancer?
CANCER • What is the basic cause of cancer?
CURABILITY & • What is cancer curability? Can we talk of a cure
SURVIVORSHIP in cancer?
• What is cancer survivorship? Who is a cancer
survivor?
• What is ROJoson Cancer Survivorship Program?
• What are ROJoson’s advocating statements and
advice on cancer curability & cancer
survivorship?
 • What is a cancer?
Health Issue
Course – Cancer is a disease.
CANCER Cancer is a medical disease when some of the
body’s cells grow uncontrollably with a potential
CURABILITY &
to invade the adjacent body tissues or organs and
SURVIVORSHIP to spread to distant tissues or organs.
 • What is a cancer? Cancer is a medical
Health Issue disease when some of
Course – the body’s cells grow
CANCER uncontrollably with a
potential
CURABILITY &
SURVIVORSHIP to invade the adjacent
body tissues or organs
and

to spread to distant
tissues or organs.
 • What is a cancer? Cancer is a medical
Health Issue disease when some of
Course – the body’s cells grow
CANCER uncontrollably with a
potential
CURABILITY &
SURVIVORSHIP to invade the adjacent
body tissues or organs
and

to spread to distant
tissues or organs.
 • What is the basic cause of cancer? Cancer is basically
Health Issue
a genetic disease—
Course –
that is, it is caused
CANCER
by changes
CURABILITY &
to genes that
SURVIVORSHIP
control the way
our cells function,
especially how
they grow and
divide.
 • What is the basic cause of cancer? Cancer is basically
Health Issue
Cancer covers a wide spectrum of diseases a genetic disease—
Course –
characterized by uncontrolled cell growth, which that is, it is caused
CANCER is driven by down-regulation of tumour- by changes
CURABILITY & suppressing genes and/or up-regulation of to genes that
SURVIVORSHIP tumour-promoting genes. 
control the way
our cells function,
Fail to stop uncontrolled cell growth!
especially how
Allow uncontrolled growth!  they grow and
divide.
 • What is cancer curability?
Health Issue
Course – The conventional definition of “medical cure”: a
medical condition or disease that’s completely
CANCER gone and will never come back.
CURABILITY &
SURVIVORSHIP Cancer curability – is cancer curable or incurable?
 • What is cancer curability?
Health Issue
Course – For cancers, no doctors will guarantee your cancer
will NOT come back.
CANCER In other words, no doctors will guarantee you will
CURABILITY & be cured of cancer after treatment (after any type
SURVIVORSHIP of treatment).

Why?
 • What is cancer curability? There are theories on how
Health Issue gene mutations lead to
Course – There are several reasons for this: cancer development:
1. Doctors don’t know everything about - Allowing rapid growth
CANCER - Failure to stop
CURABILITY & the disease yet. uncontrolled growth
The best knowledge so far is that the ultimate or - Makes mistakes when
SURVIVORSHIP proximate cause of cancer is changes (or repairing DNA errors
mutations) to the DNA (genes) within cells; that EXACT MECHANISMS –
cancer is a genetic disease caused by changes NOT DEFINITELY KNOWN
to genes that control the way our cells function, YET!
Thus, the targeted cancer
especially how they grow and divide. therapies on the molecular
or gene level are not yet
100% successful.
 • What is cancer curability?
Health Issue
Course – 2. The usual cancer treatment modalities
CANCER (surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy)
CURABILITY & are not strictly treating the primary cause
SURVIVORSHIP of the cancer. They just extirpate, kill with
drugs, and burn the cancer. If the primary cause
is still around, there is always the possibility of
recurrence after treatment.
 • What is cancer curability?
Health Issue
Course – 3. No two cancers are the same. Each
CANCER individual cancer possesses different
CURABILITY & biological characteristics, even cancers of
SURVIVORSHIP the same type. Some are slow growing
while some are fast growing. Usually, the
biologic behavior of the cancer is not
known at the time of treatment. Thus,
only time will tell the outcome of
treatment.
 • What is cancer curability?
Health Issue
Course – 4. After treatment, some cancer cells
A reason why
CANCER may remain somewhere in the body doctors do not
CURABILITY & (unnoticed and patients are guarantee NO
SURVIVORSHIP asymptomatic) for a long time, even recurrence.
as long as 10 years, but can At the time there
eventually grow, divide, invade, are no symptoms,
spread to distant areas and become a doctors use the
word
nuisance. (A RECURRENCE)
“REMISSION.”
 • What is cancer curability?
Health Issue
Course – Complete remission means that tests,
physical exams, and scans show that NO A reason why
CANCER
signs of your cancer are present. doctors do not
CURABILITY &
Some doctors also refer to complete guarantee NO
SURVIVORSHIP
remission as “no evidence of disease recurrence.
(NED)” or “no evidence of recurrence At the time there
(NER)”. are no symptoms,
doctors use the
COMPLETE REMISSION DOESN’T MEAN word
CURE. “REMISSION.”
 • What is cancer curability?
Health Issue
Course – RECURRENCE
Some cancer cells can remain unnoticed in A reason why
CANCER
doctors do not
CURABILITY & the body for years after treatment.
guarantee NO
SURVIVORSHIP
If a cancer returns after it has been in recurrence.
remission, it’s called a “recurrence.” At the time there
are no symptoms,
A cancer can recur in the same place it was doctors use the
originally diagnosed, or it can recur in a word
different part of the body. “REMISSION.”
 • What is cancer curability?
Health Issue
Course – So, up to now, there is NO true cure for cancer SAD REALITY
(NO guarantee it will not recur). GLOOMY
CANCER
CURABILITY & Physicians do not talk of “cure.” They use the
SURVIVORSHIP word “remission” if there are no signs of
recurrence.

But they together with the patients always hope

HOPEFUL REALITY
for a cure especially for those cancers which are
OPTIMISTIC
recognized, diagnosed and treated early and with
known track record of slow growth in behavior.
 • What is cancer curability?
Health Issue
Course – There is currently no cure for cancer. SAD REALITY
CANCER However, successful treatment can result in GLOOMY
cancer going into remission, which means that all
CURABILITY & signs of it have gone. The early detection and
SURVIVORSHIP treatment of cancer can significantly improve the
chances of remission and a person's outlook.

HOPEFUL REALITY
OPTIMISTIC
 • What is cancer curability?
Health Issue
Course – Literally, to cure refers to eliminate a disease or SAD REALITY
condition without any relapse. However, the GLOOMY
CANCER relapsing nature (within months or years) after
CURABILITY & remission makes the traditional definition of
SURVIVORSHIP “cure” impractical and rarely mentioned in
oncology.

HOPEFUL REALITY
OPTIMISTIC
 • What is cancer curability?
Health Issue
Course – The cure of cancer implies not only numerically SAD REALITY
long survival time, but also equal life expectation GLOOMY
CANCER between properly treated patients and
CURABILITY & corresponding cancer-free population.
SURVIVORSHIP

A plausible and empirical criterion for

curability is the maintenance of HOPEFUL REALITY
recurrence-free survival for more than 10 OPTIMISTIC
years after effective treatments.
(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3710180/)
 • What is cancer curability? HOPEFUL REALITY
Health Issue OPTIMISTIC
Course – Optimistic Concept of Cancer Curability
CANCER Based on track records of different types of
CURABILITY & cancers
SURVIVORSHIP
Based on usual recurrence time (years) of a
particular cancer after standard complete
treatment

If no recurrence at this time, then one can use

“cured.”
 • What is cancer curability? HOPEFUL REALITY
Health Issue OPTIMISTIC
Course – Optimistic Concept of Cancer Curability
CANCER Based on track records of different types of
Example:
CURABILITY & cancers If the usual
SURVIVORSHIP recurrence time of a
particular cancer is
Based on usual recurrence time (years) of a
within 5 years and
particular cancer after standard complete
if no recurrence on
treatment
the 5th year, then one
can say “cured”!
If no recurrence at this time, then one can use
“cured.”
 • What is cancer curability? HOPEFUL REALITY
Health Issue OPTIMISTIC
Course – Optimistic Concept of Cancer Curability
Example:
CANCER Based on track records of different types of If the usual
CURABILITY & cancers recurrence time of a
SURVIVORSHIP particular cancer is
Based on usual recurrence time (years) of a within 10 years and
particular cancer after standard complete if no recurrence on
treatment the 10th year, then
one can say “cured”!
If no recurrence at this time, then one can use In general, 10 years is
“cured.” used as cut-off but
with exceptions.
 • What is cancer survivorship?
Health Issue
Course –
CANCER
CURABILITY &
SURVIVORSHIP
 • What is cancer survivorship? Who is a Cancer
Health Issue Survivor?
Course – “Both the National
The American Cancer Society uses the Cancer Institute (NCI)
CANCER
term cancer survivor to refer to anyone who has and Roswell Park
CURABILITY & ever been diagnosed with cancer no matter clinically define a
SURVIVORSHIP where they are in the course of their disease. person as a cancer
One who remains alive and continues to function survivor from the day
during and after overcoming a cancer is of their cancer
considered to be a cancer survivor, so from the diagnosis onward, for
time of diagnosis until the end of life. as long as they are
alive.”
Regardless of status of cancer – in remission,
with residual or recurrence after treatment.
 • What is cancer survivorship? Who is a Cancer
Health Issue Survivor?
Course –
Cancer Survivor
CANCER A cancer survivor is an individual with cancer of
CURABILITY & any type, current or past, who is still living.
SURVIVORSHIP Personally, I like to add 10 years at least with no
recurrence (or in remission). I will also include
those patients who died after 10 years with no
recurrence and the cause of death is not due to
the cancer. My personal observation is that
chances of recurrence in this group of patients, 10
years with no recurrence, will be 1%.
 • What is cancer survivorship?
Health Issue
I have a cancer survivor registry in which I keep
Course –
tract of patients who have been treated by me
CANCER starting 1980 and who are considered "cancer
CURABILITY & survivors" using an operational criterion of at
SURVIVORSHIP least 10 years in remission after treatment.
 • What is cancer survivorship?
Health Issue
The registry which I publish in the Internet (my
Course –
blog) serves as an inspiration to current and
CANCER future cancer patients and will debunk the
CURABILITY & thinking that having cancer is always a death
SURVIVORSHIP sentence.
 • What is cancer survivorship?
Health Issue
As of August 4, 2022, I have a registry of 157
Course –
cancer survivors who have been in remission for
CANCER 10 or more years under my care. (as long as or
CURABILITY & more than 30 years in remission)
SURVIVORSHIP
Mostly- Filipino patients with breast cancers and
thyroid cancers.

I will continue to track and increase the number

of cancer survivors under my care.
 • What is cancer curability?
Health Issue RECALL THIS SLIDE!
Course – So, up to now, there is NO true cure for cancer SAD REALITY
(NO guarantee it will not recur). GLOOMY
CANCER
CURABILITY & Physicians do not talk of “cure.” They use the
SURVIVORSHIP word “remission” if there are no signs of
recurrence.

But they together with the patients always hope

HOPEFUL REALITY
for a cure especially for those cancers which are
OPTIMISTIC
recognized, diagnosed and treated early and with
known track record of slow growth in behavior.
 • What is cancer curability?
Health Issue RECALL THIS SLIDE!
Course – So, up to now, there is NO true cure for cancer SAD REALITY
(NO guarantee it will not recur). GLOOMY
CANCER
CURABILITY & Physicians do not talk of “cure.” They use the
SURVIVORSHIP word “remission” if there are no signs of
recurrence.

But
How they together
do you relatewith
thisthe patients
gloomy always
concept hope
of cancer
HOPEFUL REALITY
forcurability
a cure especially for those
or incurability cancers
to my Cancerwhich are
Survivor
OPTIMISTIC
recognized, diagnosed
Registry wherein and treated
I already earlythan
have more and 150
with
known track
patients whorecord of slow
survived moregrowth in behavior.
than 10 years and
longer?
 • What is cancer curability? HOPEFUL REALITY
Health Issue RECALL THIS SLIDE!
OPTIMISTIC
Course – Optimistic Concept of Cancer Curability
Example:
CANCER Based on track records of different types of If the usual
CURABILITY & cancers recurrence time of a
SURVIVORSHIP particular cancer is
Based on usual recurrence time (years) of a within 10 years and
particular cancer after standard complete if no recurrence on
treatment the 10th year, then
one can say “cured”!
If no recurrence at this time, then one can use In general, 10 years is
“cured.” used as cut-off but
with exceptions.
 • What is cancer curability? HOPEFUL REALITY
Health Issue RECALL THIS SLIDE!
OPTIMISTIC
Course – Optimistic Concept of Cancer Curability
Example:
CANCER Based on track records of different types of If the usual
CURABILITY & cancers recurrence time of a
SURVIVORSHIP particular cancer is
Based on usual recurrence time (years) of a within 10 years and
particular cancer after standard complete if no recurrence on
treatment the 10th year, then
How do you relate this optimistic concept of
one can say “cured”!
cancer curability to my Cancer Survivor Registry
If no recurrence at this time, then one can use In general, 10 years is
wherein I already have more than 150 patients
“cured.” used as cut-off but
who survived more than 10 years and longer?
with exceptions.
 • What is cancer survivorship?
Health Issue My recommendations: Then, hope and pray
Course – that there will be
CANCER Be optimistic but be vigilant in promoting cancer cure in terms of no
CURABILITY & cure and survivorship. recurrence until you
SURVIVORSHIP die of another non-
Though there is no guarantee of complete and cancer cause.
permanent cure from cancer, there is still a
chance for cure and survivorship. If there is cure, give
thanks.
Be vigilant on having early detection, early If there is no cure,
consultation and early treatment to have best say “thy will be
chance for cure. done.”
 • What is cancer survivorship?
Health Issue
ROJoson Cancer Survivorship Program
Course –
CANCER • Patient-centered Cancer Care Management
CURABILITY & • Group Psychosocial Therapy (ROJoson Cancer
SURVIVORSHIP Crusaders Club)
• Cancer Survivor Registry
 • What is cancer survivorship?
Health Issue
ROJoson Cancer Survivorship Program
Course –
CANCER The goal of ROJoson Cancer Survivorship Program
CURABILITY & is to help cancer patients move forward with their
SURVIVORSHIP life while carefully monitoring their disease or
surveillance.

• Patient-centered Cancer Care Management

(personalized – cost-effective / compassionate
care)
• Group Psychosocial Therapy (ROJoson Cancer
Crusaders Club)
 • What is cancer survivorship?
Health Issue
ROJoson Cancer Survivorship Program
Course –
CANCER The goal of ROJoson Cancer Survivorship Program
CURABILITY & is to help cancer patients move forward with their
SURVIVORSHIP life while carefully monitoring their disease or
surveillance.

• Patient-centered Cancer Care Management

(personalized – cost-effective / compassionate
care)
• Group Psychosocial Therapy (ROJoson Cancer
Crusaders Club)
 • What is cancer survivorship?
Health Issue
ROJoson Cancer Survivorship Program
Course –
CANCER The goal of ROJoson Cancer Survivorship Program
CURABILITY & is to help cancer patients move forward with their
SURVIVORSHIP life while carefully monitoring their disease or
surveillance.

• Patient-centered Cancer Care Management

(personalized – cost-effective / compassionate
care)
• Group Psychosocial Therapy (ROJoson Cancer
Crusaders Club)
 • What is cancer survivorship?
Health Issue
ROJoson Cancer Survivorship Program
Course –
CANCER The goal of ROJoson Cancer Survivorship Program
CURABILITY & is to help cancer patients move forward with their
SURVIVORSHIP life while carefully monitoring their disease or
surveillance.

• Patient-centered Cancer Care Management

(personalized – cost-effective / compassionate
care)
• Group Psychosocial Therapy (ROJoson Cancer
Crusaders Club)
 • What is cancer survivorship?
Health Issue
ROJoson Cancer Survivorship Program
Course –
CANCER The goal of ROJoson Cancer Survivorship Program
CURABILITY & is to help cancer patients move forward with their
SURVIVORSHIP life while carefully monitoring their disease or
surveillance.

• Patient-centered Cancer Care Management

(personalized – cost-effective / compassionate
care)
• Group Psychosocial Therapy (ROJoson Cancer
Crusaders Club)
 • What is cancer survivorship?
Health Issue
ROJoson Cancer Survivorship Program
Course –
CANCER The goal of ROJoson Cancer Survivorship Program
CURABILITY & is to help cancer patients move forward with their
SURVIVORSHIP life while carefully monitoring their disease or
surveillance.

• Patient-centered Cancer Care Management

(personalized – cost-effective / compassionate
care)
• Group Psychosocial Therapy (ROJoson Cancer
Crusaders Club)
 • What is cancer survivorship?
Health Issue
ROJoson Cancer Survivorship Program
Course –
CANCER The goal of ROJoson Cancer Survivorship Program
CURABILITY & is to help cancer patients move forward with their
SURVIVORSHIP life while carefully monitoring their disease or
surveillance.

• Patient-centered Cancer Care Management

(personalized – cost-effective / compassionate
care)
• Group Psychosocial Therapy (ROJoson Cancer
Crusaders Club)
 • What is cancer survivorship?
Health Issue
ROJoson Cancer Survivorship Program
Course –
CANCER The goal of ROJoson Cancer Survivorship Program
CURABILITY & is to help cancer patients move forward with their
SURVIVORSHIP life while carefully monitoring their disease or
surveillance.

• Patient-centered Cancer Care Management

(personalized – cost-effective / compassionate
care)
• Group Psychosocial Therapy (ROJoson Cancer
Crusaders Club)
 • What is cancer survivorship?
Health Issue
ROJoson Cancer Survivorship Program
Course –
CANCER The goal of ROJoson Cancer Survivorship Program
CURABILITY & is to help cancer patients move forward with their
SURVIVORSHIP life while carefully monitoring their disease or
surveillance.

• Patient-centered Cancer Care Management

(personalized – cost-effective / compassionate
care)
• Group Psychosocial Therapy (ROJoson Cancer
Crusaders Club)
 • What is cancer survivorship?
Health Issue
ROJoson Cancer Survivorship Program
Course –
CANCER The goal of ROJoson Cancer Survivorship Program
CURABILITY & is to help cancer patients move forward with their
SURVIVORSHIP life while carefully monitoring their disease or
surveillance.

• Patient-centered Cancer Care Management

(personalized – cost-effective / compassionate
care)
• Group Psychosocial Therapy (ROJoson Cancer
Crusaders Club)
 • What is cancer survivorship?
Health Issue
ROJoson Cancer Survivorship Program
Course –
CANCER The goal of ROJoson Cancer Survivorship Program
CURABILITY & is to help cancer patients move forward with their
SURVIVORSHIP life while carefully monitoring their disease or
surveillance.

• Patient-centered Cancer Care Management

(personalized – cost-effective / compassionate
care)
• Group Psychosocial Therapy (ROJoson Cancer
Crusaders Club)
 • What is cancer survivorship?
Health Issue
ROJoson Cancer Survivorship Program
Course –
CANCER The goal of ROJoson Cancer Survivorship Program
CURABILITY & is to help cancer patients move forward with their
SURVIVORSHIP life while carefully monitoring their disease or
surveillance.

• Patient-centered Cancer Care Management

(personalized – cost-effective / compassionate
care)
• Group Psychosocial Therapy (ROJoson Cancer
Crusaders Club)
 • ROJoson advocating statements and advice on Summary
Health Issue cancer curability & cancer survivorship Take Away
Course –
CANCER
CURABILITY &
SURVIVORSHIP
 • ROJoson advocating statements and advice on
Health Issue cancer curability & cancer survivorship
Course –
There are a lot of uncertainties in cancer
CANCER management, particularly on curability and
CURABILITY & survivorship.
SURVIVORSHIP
These uncertainties give rise to anxiety on what
to expect and what to do. They usually give rise
to a GLOOMY reality.

A recommended optimistic stance will be to still

hope for the best in terms of curability and
survivorship but ready to accept the worst.
 • ROJoson advocating statements and advice on
Health Issue cancer curability & cancer survivorship
Course –
My advice: even before cancer develops in a
CANCER person, be proactive already in knowing the basic
CURABILITY & principles and processes of cancer curability and
SURVIVORSHIP survivorship and on how early recognition, early
consult and early treatment which can give the
happier results and ending.
 • ROJoson advocating statements and advice on
Health Issue cancer curability & cancer survivorship
Course –
Although NO physician will guarantee cure on a
CANCER theoretical basis (because there is always a
CURABILITY & chance, no matter how small, for cancer to recur
SURVIVORSHIP even after the most effective treatment), in
reality, one can still talk of CURE especially if
there is early recognition, early consult and early
treatment.
 • ROJoson advocating statements and advice on
Health Issue cancer curability & cancer survivorship
Course –
This is evidenced by my cancer survivor registry
CANCER wherein patients have been shown to live in
CURABILITY & remission for more than 10 years and longer
SURVIVORSHIP (more than 30 years in my series – could be
more).
 • ROJoson advocating statements and advice on
Health Issue cancer curability & cancer survivorship
Course –
Remember this “Optimistic Concept of Cancer
CANCER Curability”
CURABILITY & • that is based on usual recurrence time (years)
SURVIVORSHIP of a particular cancer after standard complete
treatment
• if no recurrence at this time, then one can say
“cured”

- NOT the absolute concept of NO CURE / JUST

REMISSION.
 • ROJoson advocating statements and advice on
Health Issue cancer curability & cancer survivorship
Course –
Because of the uncertainties and anxieties, a
CANCER patient needs a competent, holistic, and
CURABILITY & compassionate physician to assist in the cancer
SURVIVORSHIP journey.

He needs a physician who has a Cancer

Survivorship Program which should consist of a
personalized patient-centered care management
inclusive of psychosocial therapy, and as much as
possible, a group psychosocial therapy.
 Contents of CANCER CURABILITY & Summary
Health Issue SURVIVORSHIP
Take Away
Course – • What is a cancer?
CANCER • What is the basic cause of cancer?
CURABILITY & • What is cancer curability? Can we talk of a cure
SURVIVORSHIP in cancer?
• What is cancer survivorship? Who is a cancer
survivor?
• What is ROJoson Cancer Survivorship Program?
• What are ROJoson’s advocating statements and
advice on cancer curability & cancer
survivorship?
 Be always in touch with reliable medical Take Away in
Health Issue information on CANCER CURABILITY & relation to
Course – SURVIVORSHIP.
Patient
CANCER
Knowledge is power; it gives power. Empowerment
CURABILITY &
Use the 4Ks of Patient Empowerment:
SURVIVORSHIP
Kaalaman, Kakayanan, Karapatan and
Kapangyarihan
to gain greater control over decisions in
medical management of oneself by
knowing the basic principles and processes
in CANCER CURABILITY & SURVIVORSHIP.
 My PEP TALK today
is entitled:
Empowerment
Health Issue objective - for
CANCER
Course – laypeople to have an
understanding of CURABILITY &
CANCER SURVIVORSHIP.
CURABILITY & CANCER CURABILITY
SURVIVORSHIP & SURVIVORSHIP in
their health This is part of the
management. Health Issue Course.