Oncologist Dr. Mary Ondinee Manalo Igot

I told him a few years ago, "Stop school first. Give me a few months of your life, so that I can give you the rest of your life back..."

He came to me last night and told me that he is graduating already!!!! And he still has no evidence of disease in his scans!!!!

I so love my job!!!

NED.
Three letters that mean so much. 💚

NED stands for No Evidence of Disease—meaning that, based on today's scans and tests, there is no detectable cancer.

Today, we celebrate a milestone that was earned through courage, perseverance, and countless prayers.

Congratulations to my patient on achieving NED! While the journey continues with regular follow-ups, today is a day to pause, smile, and be grateful.

Every NED is a victory worth celebrating. 💚

Asian Cancer Institute 11th Anniversary Kick-Off

CYTOREDUCTIVE SURGERY PLUS HYPERTHERMIC INTRAPERITONEAL CHEMOTHERAPY FOR CANCER OF THE APPENDIX

Appendiceal cancer is a rare disease that requires specialized care.

For selected patients with cancer confined to the abdominal cavity, cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with HIPEC (Hyperthermic or "Heated/Hot" Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy) may be an option. After removing all the cancer by the surgeon, we give chemotherapy heated to around 40-43 degrees Celsius inside the abdomen.

For appendiceal tumors and pseudomyxoma peritonei, CRS plus HIPEC remains one of the clearest evidence-based indications, supported by recent guidelines.

This procedure is now available at De La Salle University Medical Center in Cavite, expanding access to specialized cancer care in the Philippines. 💚

I love how my breast cancer patient showed up with these beautiful pink ribbon nails!

P*P PAMUNLAS Post Graduate Course
I.M. in the ICU

FEBRILE NEUTROPENIA 🌡️🦠

Not all fevers are febrile neutropenia, but in a neutropenic patient, infection should be assumed until proven otherwise.

Key points:
✅ Assess risk early and start broad-spectrum antibiotics promptly.
✅ Therapeutic G-CSF may shorten neutropenia and hospitalization, but survival benefit is unclear.
✅ Transplant recipients require a broader work-up and earlier source control.
✅ Active lupus is not an absolute contraindication to G-CSF, but close monitoring is essential.
✅ In septic shock or severe infection, life-saving measures take priority.
✅ Chemotherapy should be resumed only after hemodynamic stability, infection control, organ recovery, and hematologic recovery are achieved.

Treat the infection first.
Resume cancer therapy when the patient—not just the blood counts—is ready. 💚

When cancer spreads to the bones, medications such as zoledronic acid and denosumab can help strengthen the bones, reduce pain, and lower the risk of fractures. 💚🦴