ICanServe Foundation, Inc. (ICanServe)

ICanServe Foundation, Inc., formerly Information on Breast Cancer and Other Services , is a non-stock, non-profit organization that advocates early breast cancer detection through breast self-examination

Breast self-examination

Breast self-examination is a screening method used in an attempt to detect early breast cancer. The method involves the woman herself looking at and feeling each breast for possible lumps, distortions or swelling....

. Based in Manila, Philippines, and co-founded in 1999 by journalist Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala

Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala

Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala is a Philippine broadcast journalist who produces news documentaries. When diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997, she fought the disease with the help of doctors and survived...

, a breast cancer

Breast cancer

Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...

 survivor, the advocacy group empowers women with breast cancer and women cancer-related information so they can have a voice in their own health care. Its mission is to arm women with breast care health and breast cancer information so they can make informed decisions about their health. It also provides access to special services that will help the breast cancer survivor recover and heal more effectively.

ICanServe is not a support group. Although ICanServe provides services to elevate the capabilities of and networks with support groups all over the Philippines, it does not itself conduct regular support group meetings nor does it provide services often expected from support groups such as private talks/seminars and medical/dental clinical missions. Volunteering and/or membership in ICanServe does not prevent volunteers/members from volunteering and/or membership in other organizations, associations, networks and support groups whose mandates or goals do not contradict ICanServe's mission of spreading information and hope.

Flagship (informational) projects

1. Ating Dibdibin - the first community based breast cancer screening program in the Philippines; conducted under the auspices of the American Cancer Society

American Cancer Society

The American Cancer Society is the "nationwide community-based voluntary health organization" dedicated, in their own words, "to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and...

 and with a grant from Pfizer Foundation (USA) and Pfizer Foundation Philippines, Ating Dibdibin was first conducted in Marikina City, Metro Manila from June to December 2008; the project facilitates treatment of all women diagnosed with breast cancer during the screening period and aims to make the early detection program permanently included under the local government's health budget; Instructional videos on breast self examination were produced for Ating Dibdibin (Take Your Breast Care to Heart) narrated by singer and actress Lea Salonga

Lea Salonga

Lea Salonga-Chien is a mezzo-soprano singer and actress from the Philippines well known for originating the lead role of Kim in the musical Miss Saigon, for which she won the Olivier, Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics and Theatre World awards.She was the first Asian to play the roles of Éponine and...

 in English and actress Dawn Zulueta in Tagalog.

2. Silver Linings (2005, 2008) - national homecoming and educational forum for breast cancer survivors, their families and supporters

3. ICanServe handbook (1999, 2002) - a directory of services available to the breast cancer community in the Philippines, first published through a grant from Bristol Myers-Squibb (Phil), Inc.

4. Email/phone hotline - an informational/facilitation service for the cancer community. Celebrity members of the e-group include actresses Maritoni Fernandez

Maritoni Fernandez

Maritoni Fernandez is a Filipina character actress, model and entrepreneur.She is the daughter of an English father, Antony Moynihan, 3rd Baron Moynihan, and a Filipina mother. She is niece to Colin Moynihan, the current Baron Moynihan and head of the British Olympic Committee...

 and Melissa De Leon Joseph, writer-director Bibeth Orteza and model-trainor Patty Betita.

5. Website - www.icanserve.net allows ICanServe to reach breast cancer survivors, especially Filipina survivors, across the globe

6. Multi-media campaigns - ICanServe ties up with Philippine broadcast networks to air ICanServe-produced television and radio commercials that promote early breast cancer detection during Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October); ICanServe, in cooperation with C-Network, also produced English-language and Tagalog-language videos that demonstrate self breast examination to support Ating Dibdibin, as well as raise funds for women diagnosed with breast cancer during the program's screening period

Fund-raising projects

1. Tickled Pink (2006, 2007) - bazaar of unique finds

2. Pink Kitchen (2007, 2008) - food festival that gathers premier chefs who want to support breast cancer awareness campaigns

3. Gifts that Give Back - ICanServe-produced year-round gift items available on the ICanServe shop online, proceeds help raise awareness and subsidize medical care for breast cancer patients undergoing treatment

Other projects/activities

1. Collaboration with donors/sponsors - for fund-raising and/or awareness campaigns, ICanServe may be chosen as a beneficiary of socially responsible institutions or individuals for anniversaries or occasional special projects

2. Cancer Chat/Forum - two-hour educational lecture on self breast examination and breast cancer risks, normally sponsored by organizations, corporations, or local government units that donate funds in support of ICanServe's high-impact information campaigns

3. Patient Services - accepts donations of medicines, headwear (wigs, hats, bandannas), prostheses, and cash for distribution (free or with subsidy) to breast cancer patients in target communities

4. Message Boards - online forum for breast cancer survivors and caregivers accessed via www.icanserve.net/forum/

5. ICanServe e-group - online support group for women cancer survivors (a patient service); it facilitates doctor referrals and is a venue for comparing treatment notes and sharing experiences; over 200 email addresses have enrolled (as of December 31, 2008) with members based in the Philippines (Manila, Quezon City, Muntinlupa, Rizal, Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga, Bacolod, Baguio), USA, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, South Korea, Saipan, Malaysia, and Singapore

6. Get-togethers - occasional potluck gatherings of e-group and/or message board members

7. Volunteer opportunities - survivor volunteers serve in ICanServe projects (for fund-raising or awareness) in gratitude for help received while they were in treatment; or as in the case of non-survivors, in honor the struggle of their loved ones who battled or continue to battle cancer

Advocates

In the October 2008 issue of Marie Claire Philippines, the following ICanServe Foundation supporters wore the ICanServe shirt in what was called the Pink Shirt Campaign to raise awareness and advocate early breast cancer detection through breast self-examination

Breast self-examination

Breast self-examination is a screening method used in an attempt to detect early breast cancer. The method involves the woman herself looking at and feeling each breast for possible lumps, distortions or swelling....

: race car driver and TV host Gaby dela Merced

Gaby Dela Merced

Gabrielle De La Merced better known as Gaby, is a Filipina Formula Three racecar driver, model and TV personality.- Biography :...

; medical oncologist Dr. Malu Tiambeng; singer Bituin Escalante; mother of three Sigalit Djemal; models-and-columnists Isabel Roces and Rissa Mananquil; entrepreneurs Eva Abesamis, Susan Reyes, Crisann Celdran, Ruby Gan and Lucille Locsin; Senator Pia Cayetano; model and environmentalist Bianca Araneta; former Representative Charlie Cojuangco; columnist Mayenne Carmona; singer and Sexy Chef restaurant owner Rachel Alejandro

Rachel Alejandro

-Early life:Rachel's mother and father separated when she was 4. Her mother remarried and moved to the US. Together with dad Hajji and his new partner, the late Rio Diaz, Rachel and her sister Barni spent time in Manila and the U.S.Her theater experience began with The Sound of Music at 8 years...

; model and jewelry designer Tweetie de Leon; artist Isa Lorenzo; writer and director Bibeth Orteza; film director Carlitos Siguion Reyna; broadcast journalists Cheche Lazaro and David Celdran; breast surgeon Dr. Diana Cua; fundraiser Frannie Jacinto; actress Melissa de Leon-Joseph; Marikina City Mayor Marides Fernando

Marides Fernando

Maria Lourdes Carlos-Fernando or shortly known as Marides Fernando , was an award-winning city mayor of Marikina and the wife of Former MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando, also a former city mayor of Marikina. She was a finalist for the 2008 World Mayor award.-External links:* * *...

; student and model Isabelle Daza; fashion designer Lulu Tan-Gan; and news anchor and TV host Chiqui Roa-Puno. They also appeared in a video documenting the Pink Shirt Campaign.