LEGAZPI CITY – Bicolano cancer patients need not go to Manila for further diagnosis and treatment for their life-threatening disease with the opening of the Bicol’s only cancer center and breast care unit at the Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Center (BRTTC) in this city.

The Bicol Cancer Center was a brainchild of Albay Gov. Joey Sarte Salceda in partnership with the East Avenue Medical Center in Quezon City, the Philippine Foundation for Breast Care Inc., and the BRTTH that came into fruition in just two years.

Salceda said he has committed that the provincial government will purchase  mammography and chemotherapy equipment during the first quarter of 2012 and expressed optimism that he can source out funding for the purchase of the more costly radio therapy equipment to treat patients at a much lower cost than chemotherapy.

He said the Bicol Cancer Center will provide a holistic management from diagnostic to state-of-the- art treatment for the less fortunate Bicolano patients who do not have to go to Manila for their treatment.

Salceda lauded Dr. Rogelio G. Rivera, BRTTH medical director, in being able to fast track the realization of the establishment of the center in a very short time and maintaining a strong linkage with its partners, the EAMC and the PFBCI. The center was inaugurated last month.

Dr. Roland Cortez, EAMC medical director, said they are fully committed to provide the necessary assistance to the center to make it a truly effective cancer treatment hub in Bicol.