I Can Serve Foundation founder-president Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala represented the Philippines together with Roche and C-Network, a Philippine-based alliance of cancer-focused individuals and organizations.

Alikpala, who is also a broadcast journalist-documentarian and breast cancer survivor, met with breast cancer advocate leaders who run foundations from across different countries during the said convention.

The Europa Donna’s goal is to raise awareness of breast cancer and mobilization of support from European women in pressing for improved breast cancer education, appropriate screening, optimal treatment and care, and increased funding for research.

Roche, in the recent years, has been supporting the Europa Donna and has made possible sending patient delegates to the convention where there is plenty of knowledge- and experience-sharing on modern cancer treatment. With 22 representing countries from all continents, the Europa Donna focused on the role of foundations and support groups and their collaboration with different public and private groups in the battle against cancer.

During the convention, Alikpala compared how cancer advocacy and cancer awareness at that, is lagging in the Philippines.

"In our country, the poor especially those diagnosed at a later stage, have very few options. Medications are too expensive. There aren’t any foundations or funding agencies that can sponsor cancer treatments from beginning to end. This is sad and this should change," Alikpala said.

Alikpala said that most sponsors refuse to give money if the patients are in the later stages of cancer. Unfortunately, the poor wait a long time before consulting a doctor.

Recent statistics at the Rizal and Manila Cancer Registry show that in terms of survival rates, the Philippines is behind the United States by 25 years. Moreover, the Philippines has the biggest incidence of breast cancer in Southeast Asia.

Alikpala stressed that the most important thing for cancer patients is hope: "No matter what the diagnosis, proper information is necessary to give the patient a sense of control. When you’re mentally and spiritually empowered you’ve won half, if not most of the battle," she said.

"When I found out I had cancer, I wasn’t afraid of dying, nor of recurrence. I didn’t question, go on a rampage, or sink into depression. But when I was told I wouldn’t have children, I stopped breathing. Then I just believed that those words were merely doctors’ opinions, only God can really predict and create the future. I prayed and believed and had a daughter."

Towards a successful advocacy, Alikpala sees the meshing of communities of patients, their families, the healthcare professionals, the pharmaceutical companies and the government as essential in the fight against cancer and development of cancer treatment.

In an optimistic note, Alikpala sees the Filipinos to have built-in supportive families and friends as an important first step. Additionally, support groups offer another level of empathy – they give hope, they cheer you on and help you fight to stay sane as you undergo treatment.

In September, Alikpala through I Can Serve Foundation, is setting up a conference/seminar for the leaders of the breast cancer support groups to discuss the groups’ common problems and to try to figure out how to achieve common goals.

"This will be a first. I have big plans in the direction of early breast cancer detection, but it needs thorough studying. What is crucial is finding the right people in the private and public sector willing to collaborate and help sustain programs for a long period," Alikpala said.