ICanServe Foundation, Inc., formerly Information on Breast Cancer and Other Services, was founded in 1999 by four breast cancer survivors led by journalist Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala. Co-founding ICanServe were Crisann Celdran, Becky Fuentes and Bet Lazatin. The four friends saw the need to provide a circle of support for women who were newly diagnosed, women on cancer treatments and women in remission navigating through their “new normal” life. They also saw the need to provide women with information.
In 2000 and 2003, ICANSERVE published the book ICANSERVE: A Network of People, Places and Services for the Philippine Breast Cancer Community. The book, distributed for free, was the first listing of resources available to the Philippine Breast Cancer survivor. The book helped define the breast cancer community in the country. ICANSERVE continues to stay connected with the different breast cancer patient groups in the country.
In 2005, ICANSERVE staged Silver Linings, the first national breast cancer forum and homecoming for breast cancer survivors. It is held every three years and continues to attract at least a thousand women of various backgrounds from different parts of the country.
In 2008, ICANSERVE refined its mission to promoting early breast cancer detection. It started the first comprehensive community-based breast cancer screening program called Ating Dibdibin. The program entails training of the medical team of a city all the way to providing free or subsidized cancer treatments. Ating Dibdibin is ICANSERVE’s flagship program. ICANSERVE wishes to introduce this program to as many cities as possible.
The ICANSERVE Foundation headquarters is in Pasig City, Philippines and has an affiliate in Cebu City.
As a non-stock, non-profit foundation based in Manila, Philippines it advocates early breast cancer detection through high impact information campaigns and community-based screening programs. It empowers women with breast cancer and provides women with cancer-related information so they can have a voice in their own health care. It offers hope so women will not feel alone in their journey. Volunteers are cancer survivors willing to share their light with other patients and survivors so that their path is better lit, and the journey, lighter.
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 for and/or affiliating with other organizations, associations, networks and support groups whose mandates or goals do not contradict ICanServe’s mission of spreading information and hope.
