PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur (September 16) — Cancer patients in Caraga may soon have access to specialized care closer to home, as the region’s first Cancer Access Site (CAS) is expected to open at the Democrito O. Plaza Memorial Hospital (DOPMH) by November 2026.
The planned facility is expected to reduce the time and cost of cancer care for patients who currently travel to Davao City, particularly the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC), for diagnosis, consultation and treatment.
“Based on our census here in DOPMH, many patients from Agusan del Sur and Butuan are diagnosed with cancer and need to travel to SPMC,” said Gemmary Parcon, Nurse II at DOPMH. “There is a plan to establish a Cancer Access Site here so patients can save on medical and transportation expenses.”
Bringing cancer care closer
The project is being led by the Provincial Government of Agusan del Sur with support from the Department of Health (DOH), including assistance through its Cancer Assistance Fund (CAF), which helps provide financial support for cancer medicines and treatment-related expenses.
The planned CAS is intended to serve not only patients from Agusan del Sur but also cancer patients from other parts of Caraga, particularly those who face difficulty traveling to major cancer centers outside the region.
Parcon said improving access to early screening is a major objective of the program.
“Our program aims to make early cancer screening more accessible to the people of Caraga because prevention is better than cure,” she said. “The earlier you get screened, the better your chances of preventing the disease from becoming worse.”
Diagnostic services already available
Patients do not have to wait for the completion of the new Cancer Treatment Unit to access some diagnostic services at DOPMH.
The hospital has already expanded its capacity to support the initial assessment of suspected cancer cases, including:
· Histopathology and diagnostics — surgical biopsy specimens can now be processed through the hospital’s laboratory;
· Tumor marker testing — laboratory equipment is available for tests that can support the assessment of certain cancers; and
· Oncology consultations — a visiting oncologist provides specialist consultation and helps interpret diagnostic results.
The planned Cancer Access Site is expected to build on these services by bringing more cancer-related care closer to patients in Caraga.
For families who now have to make repeated trips to Davao for cancer care, the difference could be measured not only in kilometers but also in transportation costs, lost income and the emotional strain of prolonged treatment away from home.
The project’s progress toward its November 2026 target will determine how soon Caraganons can begin receiving more specialized cancer services within the region.
