ZCMC - Cancer Center

26/12/2025

Headline: Honoring a Decade of Care and Excellence 🎗️

The ZCMC Cancer Center recently gathered to celebrate the heart of our facility: our dedicated staff. During our Year-End Party last December 20, 2025, we took a moment to recognize the individuals whose passion and hard work define our mission.

🌟 THE DEKADA AWARD Celebrating 10 years of unwavering dedication. These pioneers have been with the ZCMC Cancer Center since its establishment in 2015, providing a decade of excellent service:

- Ms. Cynthia Bisquera (Radiation Oncology Unit)
- Mr. Teodorico Alviar (Radiation Oncology Unit)
- Ms. Aleli Yamongan (Chemotherapy Unit)
- Ms. Sharon Mae Calunod (Chemotherapy Unit)
- Mr. Richard Tabuniag (Nuclear Medicine Unit)

✨ CANCER CENTER EXCELLENCE AWARD Recognizing those who go above and beyond in their clinical service and patient care:

- Dr. Nisreen-Aini Teo (Chemotherapy Unit)
- Mr. Noel Monopollo (Chemotherapy Unit)
- Ms. Merwina Soña Tahil (Nuclear Medicine Unit)
- Dr. Ailexxa Delgado (Radiation Oncology Unit)
- Ms. Nuriya Laja (Radiation Oncology Unit)

Thank you for your tireless commitment to our patients and the community. Together, we continue the fight against cancer! 💙

23/12/2025

𝑪𝒐𝒓𝒂𝒛𝒐𝒏 𝒅𝒆 𝑬𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒛𝒂 (𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝑯𝒐𝒑𝒆): The ZCMC Cancer Patients and Caregivers Support Group successfully held its first-ever Fellowship last December 22, 2025, at the ZCMC Cancer Center Lobby! 🎊

It was a day filled with delicious food, thoughtful gifts, exciting raffle draws, and the joy of singing and dancing. Our patients—both adults and children—had a wonderful time simply being together and celebrating life.

This event was organized to uplift our patients' spirits during this festive month, highlighting the power of community and the beautiful gift of sharing our blessings. From patients and caregivers to our generous donors, everyone brought food, drinks, and gifts to ensure no one left empty-handed.

Even for just one day, we were able to bring smiles to their faces, hope to their hearts, and a true sense of camaraderie. It was a beautiful reminder that nobody fights alone and that together, we are stronger. 💪✨

A heartfelt THANK YOU to all our donors, volunteers, and attendees who made this fellowship possible.
Thank you,
- Corazon De Esperanza - Heart of Hope Officers
- ZCMC-MSWD and their interns for the energetic hosting of the event
- ZCMC Cancer Center Staff and volunteers

Your kindness is the heartbeat of this group.

23/12/2025

The ZCMC Cancer Center is proud to announce its achievements at the ZCMC Year-End Fellowship Night, held on December 19, 2025, at Astoria Regency, Zamboanga City. The Center was honored with the following recognitions:

- 5S/7S Compliance Award – Certificate of Commendation
- Dr. Jacobo Fajardo Innovations Award for 2025 – Certificate of Commendation

These awards exemplify the ZCMC Cancer Center’s commitment to excellence and continuous improvement in patient care and services. We sincerely thank the ZCMC administration for this recognition!

12/12/2025

To our dear Cancer Warriors,

On the 22nd of December this year, join us as we celebrate friendship despite hurdling this journey against Cancer. We hope you can join our fellowship, a space where we can come together to find comfort, share stories, and offer support in an environment of empathy and understanding. This is a place to connect as people, not just as patients.

In this battle against Cancer, there are ups and downs, good days and bad, and a whole range of feelings that come with it all. The power of a shared experience, where we can truly understand and uplift one another, is invaluable. A journey that is incredibly challenging, a journey no one should have to walk alone.

Your presence is the only gift we need. We look forward to seeing you and growing our circle of support. See you here at the ZCMC - Cancer Center, Lobby, 2PM onwards.

With warmth and hope,

Your fellow Cancer Warrior ❤️

11/12/2025

Thank You for Sharing Your Strength, Sir Vince!

The ZCMC Cancer Center would like to give a heartfelt thank you to Mr. Vince Calantas from the Western Mindanao State University–Department of Nursing!

Mr. Calantas generously donated two signed copies of his inspiring book, “Public Posts, Private Soul: Stories of Strength, Stillness and the Sacred Act of Showing Up.”

These special copies are now available in our Center, serving as a beacon of hope for our patients and a source of renewal for our health workers.

As a dedicated nurse, educator, and a loving caretaker himself, Mr. Calantas understands the journey firsthand. We salute him for sharing his strength and wisdom.

We hope these stories will inspire everyone fighting the Big C to show up, keep the faith, and continue the fight.

Muchisimas Gracias, Sir!

28/11/2025

The Cancer Registry Unit, represented by Dr. Ahmad Musahari, concluded its participation in a three-day workshop titled "Data Analysis for Professionals in Healthcare and Education." The event was a collaborative effort, organized by the Department of Science and Technology IX's Zamboanga Consortium for Health Research and Development (DOST - ZCHRD), and the ZCMC PETRO-Research Unit.

This is a strategic initiative aimed at equipping professionals in the healthcare and education sectors with the necessary data analysis skills to ensure the better presentation and rigorous analysis of their research findings. Hopefully contributing to better treatment outcome and quality of life for our cancer patients.

27/11/2025

The Zamboanga City Medical Center Hospital Tumor Board (ZCMC HTB) and the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine successfully hosted the FIRST EVER HTB Lecture Symposium today, November 27, 2025!

Event: “Elevating Quality: Mastering Pre-Analytic Procedures for Quality Histopathology, Cytology and Immunohistochemistry specimen in ZCMC”

Huge thanks to our expert speakers from the Zcmc Pathology who highlighted the critical importance of teamwork before the microscope: Dr. Randell S. Arias, Dr. Al-Zamzam A. Abubakar, and Dr. Czam Faith G. Bustamante! Their insightful lectures highlighted the critical importance of teamwork before the microscope in ensuring accurate cancer diagnoses.

To all the dedicated participants from various ZCMC departments: Thank you for your commitment to learning!

👉 Our Commitment: Together, we are raising the bar for quality diagnostic procedures, ensuring excellent care and accurate pathways for our cancer patients here at ZCMC!

26/11/2025

See you all, tomorrow! 😊

The ZCMC-Cancer Center, Hospital Tumor Board (HTB) and the Department of Pathology presents...

"ELEVATING QUALITY: Mastering Pre-Analytic Procedures for Quality Histopathology, Cytology and Immunohistochemistry specimen in ZCMC, a Lecture Symposium."

When: November 27, 2025, 9:00 AM to 12:00 NN
Where: ZCMC Administration Lobby

Target Participants:
- Nursing Staff (OR nurses, OPD Nurses)
- Resident MDs
- Medical Students
- And other health workers exposed to and are involved in the pre-analytical preparation of specimens for histopathologic, cytologic and immunohistochemical diagnosis.

The event aims to significantly improve the accuracy and standardization of diagnostic reports by ensuring pre-analytic procedures for histopathology, cytology, and immunohistochemistry specimens meet the highest quality standards at ZCMC.

To register, please fill-up this form:
https://tiny.cc/57mu001
or scan the QR code below.

21/11/2025

PNRI Conducts Site Inspection and Licensure Review of ZCMC Cancer Center Units

The Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) recently concluded a two-day site inspection and licensure review of two vital components of the ZCMC Cancer Center: the Nuclear Medicine Unit and the Radiation Oncology Unit.

The inspection covered a comprehensive review of the licenses, operational policies, and safety procedures of both units, which utilize radioactive materials for the diagnosis and treatment of both cancer and non-cancer patients.

I. Nuclear Medicine Unit:
- This unit serves an average of 1,100 patients monthly. It provides a range of services including non-imaging tests (such as TSH, FT4, etc), imaging tests (like bone scintigraphy/bone scan, bone densitometry, etc.), and Radioactive Iodine (RAI) treatments. As the first facility in Zamboanga City offering inpatient RAI treatment, adherence to standard procedures for the handling, storage, and disposal of radioactive materials is paramount.

II. Radiation Oncology Unit:
- Meanwhile, this unit caters to approximately 350 patients per month. Its services include CT Simulation, Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), and High-Dose Rate Brachytherapy—the only service of its kind in the Zamboanga Peninsula and BaSulTa region. As the primary center for radiotherapy patients, it is crucial that the facility follows the highest standard procedures in handling, storage, and disposal of radioactive materials.

We extend our gratitude to the inspectors from the PNRI for ensuring that our facility maintains the highest standards of safety and operational procedures for the benefit of our patients and the community.

05/11/2025

The ZCMC-Cancer Center, Hospital Tumor Board (HTB) and the Department of Pathology presents...

"ELEVATING QUALITY: Mastering Pre-Analytic Procedures for Quality Histopathology, Cytology and Immunohistochemistry specimen in ZCMC, a Lecture Symposium."

When: November 27, 2025, 9:00 AM to 12:00 NN
Where: ZCMC Administration Lobby

Target Participants:
- Nursing Staff (OR nurses, OPD Nurses)
- Resident MDs
- Medical Students
- And other health workers exposed to and are involved in the pre-analytical preparation of specimens for histopathologic, cytologic and immunohistochemical diagnosis.

The event aims to significantly improve the accuracy and standardization of diagnostic reports by ensuring pre-analytic procedures for histopathology, cytology, and immunohistochemistry specimens meet the highest quality standards at ZCMC.

To register, please fill-up this form:
https://tiny.cc/57mu001
or scan the QR code below.

05/11/2025

October 29, 2025 || Zamboanga City

PINK October 2025: "Ganar Contra Cáncer: La Verdad de la Enfermedad"

The ZCMC - Cancer Center, in partnership with the Department of Health Zamboanga Peninsula Center for Health Development (DOH ZPCHD) and the Zamboanga City Health Office, successfully conducted PINK October 2025: "Ganar Contra Cáncer: La Verdad de la Enfermedad," as the culminating event for this year's Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Various healthcare workers from selected barangays participated in the event, which featured focused lectures covering breast cancer, cervical cancer, colorectal cancer, their respective screening protocols, and related health matters.

04/11/2025

𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐊 | The Department of Health Zamboanga Peninsula Center for Health Development (DOH ZPCHD), through the Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) Cluster, successfully conducted the 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲 on October 24, 2025 at the DOH ZPCHD Conference Room.

The activity aimed to promote early detection and prevention of breast cancer among women personnel, in line with the Department of Health’s Breast Cancer Early Detection Services (BCEDS) Guidelines.

All DOH ZPCHD employees were also enjoined to wear pink shirts for to show support for women’s health and champion breast cancer awareness.

This initiative highlights the commitment of DOH ZPCHD to promote early detection, strengthen cancer prevention, and advocate for women’s health—dahil sa Bagong Pilipinas, Bawat Buhay Mahalaga!