By Frederic IVvan L. Ting,* MD,FPCP, FPSMO

^{(Note: This article, in partnership with the Philippine Society of Medical Oncology, appeared in the MIMS Oncology magazine, October–November 2026 issue.)}

Cancer treatment has changed. And with it, comes a new reason to believe that a diagnosis does not have to be the end of the story.

There are few words that can change a person’s life in an instant.

“You have cancer.”

For many Filipinos, hearing those words still feels like receiving a death sentence.

Almost immediately, the mind begins to imagine the worst: chemotherapy, surgery, needles, hospital stays, hair loss, pain, weakness, expensive treatments—and ultimately, death. And because of these fears, some patients delay consultation. Others turn first to herbal medicines or unproven treatments. Some choose to “wait and see. ”Others refuse treatment because of stories they heard from relatives or friends who underwent cancer treatment many years ago.

But there is one message I want every Filipino to hear: Cancer treatment today is NOT the same as cancer treatment years ago.

Medicine has changed. Cancer treatment has changed. Supportive care has changed. And our understanding of cancer has changed dramatically. There is much more reason to hope today.

“Doc, natatakot ako sa chemotherapy.”

I remember a young woman who came to see me after discovering a lump in her breast. She was a young mother and was understandably terrified. Her first concern was not herself. It was her children.

She was afraid of chemotherapy. She had heard stories about how patients became extremely weak, vomited continuously, lost their hair, and were unable to function normally.

She wondered: “Doc, kakayanin koba?” She wanted to delay treatment. And I understood why. Fear is a very human response to a cancer diagnosis. So we talked. We discussed her biopsy and the characteristics of her cancer.

We discussed why treatment was being recommended and what the goals were. We talked about the possible side effects—and, importantly, how modern medicine can prevent and manage many of them.

Most importantly, I explained to her that the treatment she was about to receive was not the same treatment cancer patients received decades ago.

She eventually decided to proceed. Treatment was not always easy. There were days when she felt tired. There were moments of anxiety. There were times when she cried and wondered if she could continue. But she did. One treatment at a time. One appointment at a time. One day at a time.

And slowly, something changed. She realized that the treatment she had feared so much was something she could actually endure.

She was stronger than she thought.

And perhaps more importantly, she realized that she was not fighting alone.

CANCER TREATMENT HAS CHANGED—DRAMATICALLY

When people hear the word chemotherapy, many still picture the cancer treatment of 20 or 30 years ago. That is understandable. Perhaps they remember a relative who became extremely sick after treatment. Perhaps they remember someone who spent days in the hospital.

Perhaps they remember someone who suffered terribly from nausea, infections, or other complications. Those experiences were real.

But we should not assume that what happened to someone years ago will necessarily happen to you today.

Cancer medicine has evolved enormously. Decades ago, doctors had fewer drugs and fewer ways to control the side effects of treatment. Today, we have better chemotherapy drugs, more precise dosing, sophisticated monitoring, improved anti-nausea medications, better infection prevention and management, improved blood-count support, and far more effective supportive care.

And chemotherapy is only one part of modern oncology. Depending on the type and biology of the cancer, patients may benefit from: targeted therapy, immunotherapy, hormonal therapy, radiation therapy, precision medicine, advanced surgical techniques, and combinations of these treatments.

We can now study cancer at a much deeper level—sometimes down to specific molecular changes within the tumor. This allows us, in selected patients, to choose treatments that are more specifically directed toward the cancer.

We are no longer simply treating “cancer.” We are treating “your cancer.” That distinction is enormous.

The cancer treatment of yesterday is not the cancer treatment of today

Think about how much medicine has changed in just one generation. Imagine comparing today’s smartphone with a mobile phone from the early 1990s. They both make calls. But that is where the similarity largely ends. Cancer treatment is much the same. The treatments we use today may have the same names as those used years ago, but the way we use them, combine them, monitor them, and support patients through them has evolved tremendously.

We understand cancer biology better. We understand which patients are most likely to benefit from particular treatments. We have better diagnostic tests. We have better imaging. We have better pathology. We have molecular testing. We have newer drugs. We have better supportive medications. And we are increasingly able to tailor treatment to the individual patient.

So when someone says: “Ay, nag-chemotherapy ang relative konoon. Grabe ang pinagdaanan niya” I would never dismiss that experience. But I would also say: “That was then. Cancer treatment today is different.” Your relative’s experience can teach us something. But it should not automatically determine your treatment decision.

THERE IS NOTHING TO FEAR FROM SEEKING TREATMENT

This does not mean that cancer treatment has no side effects. It would be dishonest to say that. Some patients may experience fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, hair loss, changes in blood counts, neuropathy, or other treatment-related effects depending on the treatment they receive.

But modern cancer care is not simply about giving a drug and hoping for the best. We anticipate side effects. We monitor patients closely. We prevent complications whenever possible. We treat symptoms promptly. And we modify treatment when necessary. Your cancer team is there to make treatment as safe and tolerable as possible while achieving the best possible cancer outcome. You do not have to suffer unnecessarily. And you certainly do not have to face treatment alone.

WHAT WE SHOULD FEAR IS THE CANCER THAT WE NEVER TREAT

Perhaps the greatest danger is not treatment. Sometimes, the greater danger is delaying treatment because of fear. I have seen patients discover a lump but wait because it did not hurt. I have seen patients postpone consultation because they were afraid of what the doctor might find. I have seen people spend months trying alternative treatments before seeking medical care. And sometimes, by the time they finally come to the hospital, the cancer has already progressed.

This is heartbreaking. Because early diagnosis and timely treatment can make an enormous difference for many patients with cancer. Not every lump is cancer. Not every cough is cancer. Not every episode of bleeding is cancer. But the only way to know is to have it properly evaluated.

Don’t let fear of the diagnosis prevent you from discovering the truth. If it isn’t cancer, you gain peace of mind. If it is cancer, you gain something even more important: the opportunity to act.

“But what if I can’t handle the treatment?”

This is one of the most honest questions a patient can ask. My answer is: You don’t have to handle ever thing today. You only need to handle today. You don’t have to think about the fifth chemotherapy cycle when you haven’t even started the first. You don’t have to imagine every possible side effect before you even know what treatment you will receive. You don’t have to solve every problem at once.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE FEARLESS

I often tell patients: “You don’t have to be fearless. You just have to be brave enough to take the next step.” Being afraid does not make you weak. Cry if you need to. Ask questions. Tell your doctor what you are worried about. Tell your family what you need. Ask about side effects. Ask about treatment costs. Ask about alternatives. Ask about your chances of cure or control. If you need another opinion, seek one. But don’t let fear, misinformation, or stories from decades ago make the decision for you. Because cancer treatment has changed. And it will continue to change.

MORE THAN TREATMENT: MORE REASONS TO HOPE

There was a time when a cancer diagnosis left doctors with very few options. Today, we have patients living for years with cancers that once had very limited treatment possibilities. Some cancers can be cured. Some can be controlled for many years. Some patients respond dramatically to modern treatments. And new therapies continue to emerge. This does not mean we can promise that every patient will be cured. We cannot. Cancer remains a serious disease. But serious does not mean hopeless.

A cancer diagnosis is not automatically the end of life. Sometimes, itis the beginning of a different chapter. A chapter that may include treatment, uncertainty, courage, family, faith, and hope.

TO THE FILIPINO WHO IS AFRAID

If you are reading this because you or someone you love has recently been diagnosed with cancer, I want you to remember this: You are allowed to be afraid.

But please don’t allow that fear to stop you from seeking help. Don’t compare today’s cancer treatment with what your grandmother experienced 30years ago. Don’t let a frightening story on social media determine your medical decision. Don’t assume that chemotherapy today is exactly the same chemotherapy your relative received years ago. It isn’t. Cancer medicine has progressed. We have learned more. We have better treatments. We have better supportive care. We have better ways of diagnosing and understanding cancer. And we have more ways to fight.

So make the consultation. Get the biopsy. Understand your diagnosis. Ask questions. Know your treatment options. Seek a second opinion if you need reassurance. And then, together with your healthcare team, take the next step.

BACAUSE FEAR SHOULD NEVER BE STRONGER THAN HOPE

Cancer is frightening. But treatment should not be something that we automatically fear. Treatment is our opportunity to fight. The goal is not to make you suffer. The goal is to give you the best possible chance to live. To see your children graduate. To celebrate another birthday. To attend another family reunion. To watch your grandchildren grow. To return to work. To travel. To laugh. To enjoy another ordinary morning with the people you love.

Sometimes, these ordinary moments become extraordinary after cancer. And that is why I tell my patients: Don’t be afraid of the treatment before you understand it.

Cancer treatment today is very different from the treatment of the past. Itis more informed. More precise. More personalized. And, in many cases, more tolerable than people imagine. So if you are afraid, take a breath. Hold the hand of someone you love. Talk to your doctor. And take the next step. Because courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is choosing to move forward despite it. And in cancer, sometimes the most important words are simply: “Natatakot ako. Pero lalaban ako.” Because there is still much to fight for. And there is still so much to hope for.

As I always tell my patients, “Let your Faith be stronger than your fears (Hebrews 13:6). Because cancer is not a death sentence – there is always HOPE!”

^{*Fellow, Philippine Society of Medical Oncology; Dean, College of Medicine, University of St. La Salle; Chair of Training, Philippine Society of Medical Oncology; Head of Research, DOH - CLMMRH Cancer Care Center; Chair, Regional Cancer Council, DOH-Negros Island Region. He is based in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental.}

Huwag matakot lumaban: Why cancer treatment today gives us more reason to hope