CSMC pushes for team approach to tumor management this Brain Tumor Awareness Month

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the country, third only to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. For less common cancers like brain cancer, however, there may not be enough awareness among Filipinos to prevent its onset, or resources to help those afflicted. 

“One common misconception is that frequent headaches must mean a brain tumor; that’s often not the case,” said Dr. Michael Louis Gimenez, resident neurosurgeon and Chairman of the Brain and Spine Institute at Cardinal Santos Medical Center (CSMC). “It’s possible, but there are a combination of symptoms that more accurately distinguish a possible brain tumor.”

CSMC advocates for feminine wellness this National Women’s Month

Conversations about feminine wellness are still considered taboo or even shameful, especially in conservative countries like the Philippines. From menstrual problems to reproductive health and even menopause concerns, there is still a significant lack of resources for women regarding these issues.

“Women deserve access to all the information and resources they need to ensure that their feminine wellness is taken care of,” said Dr. Catherine Howard, head of Cardinal Santos Medical Center’s (CSMC) Reproductive and Sexual Health committee and the CSMC Laser Gynecologic Group. “Feminine health is nothing to be ashamed about.”

CSMC pushes for more awareness on lung health and improving lifestyle as part of preventive care

Lung cancer is the second-most prevalent cancer in the Philippines, bringing about nearly 17,000 fatalities among Filipinos in 2020. This is likely due to the very large smoking population - 28% or 17.3 million Filipinos over 15 years old are smokers.

According to the Philippine Cancer Society, lung cancer does not stay contained to the lungs. “Lung cancer could also spread through the bloodstream and affect other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes, and can metastasize in vital organs,” said Cardinal Santos Medical Center’s (CSMC) Section Head of Pulmonary Medicine and Lung Cancer expert, Dr. Percival P. Pangilinan.

Unfortunately, some signs and symptoms of lung cancer do not show at an early stage, making it hard to detect until the cancer is advanced. The main symptoms of lung cancer can include a long-term cough that worsens over time, persistent breathlessness, tiredness or fatigue, and coughing up blood.

CSMC advocates for better kidney health during the holidays

Christmas is not just a holiday for Filipinos - it is a time of celebration and revelry, of coming home and spending time with family, friends, and loved ones. That is usually done in a variety of ways, like throwing parties, singing karaoke, and of course, eating and drinking. A Filipino Christmas is not complete without a feast!

While Christmas is indeed the season to be jolly, it is important to keep oneself in check, especially when it comes to what we eat and how much. Delicious and savory meals might also be high in sodium or sugar content, which may actually increase the risk of developing kidney stones.

“Sometimes, even our favorite food can cause harm to our bodily functions if we eat too much of it,” said Cardinal Santos Medical Center’s (CSMC) Chief of the Section of Urology, Dr. Jason L. Letran. “An uptick in dietary sodium content increases the amount of calcium excretion in the urine, while an excess of sugar can cause increased urine calcium and decreased urine volume, a perfect scenario for urinary stone formation.”

CSMC receives platinum award after reaccreditation by Investors in People

Cardinal Santos Medical Center (CSMC) was awarded for its platinum accreditation by Investors in People (IiP) at the recently concluded concourse and awarding ceremony “The Keys to Culture-building: More than Just a Nice Place to Work!”. The event was held via Zoom on Oct. 28, Friday.

CSMC’s very own VP and Head of Human Resources, Ms. Maria Louzel “Lucky” Diaz-Tiozon, was a keynote speaker for the concourse, where she discussed the various implementations done by the hospital in order to enhance and maintain the well-being, morale and performance of its employees, medical staff and patient community. This included the hospital’s Nursing Career Development Program which aims to transform nurses into globally competitive professionals through circular migration; the Psychosocial Wellness Program which was the institution’s response to the growing burnout faced by frontliners during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic; the WebiCon series that sought to educate and inform the public on various medical ailments, treatments and prevention measures and many others.

CSMC is Certified Platinum

Cardinal Santos Medical Center (CSMC) is the first hospital in the country to receive platinum accreditation from Investors in People (IiP). This also makes Cardinal Santos the fifth institution to receive the highest possible accolade from the international accrediting body. CSMC now ranks fourth among 69 organizations in the Human Health & Medical Activities Category and 83 of 1074 organizations globally that have taken part in the accreditation process.

The certification is valid from 2022 to 2025 and is the culmination of a re-accreditation process that has seen the hospital receive the highest-possible approval that IiP hands out. Platinum accreditation means that there is a high level of trust, empowerment, and collaboration between the organization’s leaders and its people. CSMC provides opportunities for people to build their networks, drive their own learning and development, and feel they are in an environment where they can be their very best and be valued for why they are unique.