Charles Jeffrey Tan, MD Cancer Specialist

15/06/2025

It is impossible to imagine receiving the ASCO IDEA award🎗️ without the guidance of local and international mentors, the support of my institution and the encouragement and insight of my peers.

A week after the IDEA💡 program, one thing is clear: the future we envision for cancer care will not be realized by individual efforts or skills alone.🤝

It is through this very network of passionate individuals slowly built and grown - one patient, one discovery, one collaboration at a time.

I am deeply grateful for

- Dr. Abou-Alfa for generously arranging my brief observership at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center . The way you structured GI multidisciplinary meetings⚕️, clinical trial discussion and research collaborations🧬. Both efficiently and wonderfully done at scale. Truly, what I aspire to replicate in the Philippine setting🌐.

Dr. Janjigian and Dr. Thummalapalli, for allowing to me sit-in your clinics and witness firsthand the "MSK way" 👨‍⚕️of integrating personalized care and clinical research seamlessly. Patients go home feeling hopeful and assured they received the best available option.🏥

And lastly, to my batchmates in ASCO IDEA- your stories❤️‍🔥 and passion navigating your own clinical and health system challenges continue to inspire me.

Hearing your stories of successes (and occasional publications at the side) encourages me to dream bigger and push forward.

Thank you again to American Society of Clinical Oncology for this life changing experience.

02/06/2025

One of the most important trials presented in . And my first time seeing a standing ovation 👏 from the often critical oncology professionals 😲

The Challenge trial is the first clinical trial to prove the effect of 🚴‍♂️exercise💪 on colon cancer. Previously, it was only observation studies 👀

After chemotherapy💊, patients were given a structured exercise for 3 years 🏋️‍♀️

The physical activity consultants prescribe exercise based on their preference - a 45-60min brisk walk 🚶🚶‍♀️🚶‍♂️- 3 to 4 times a week or it's equivalence 🏊.

Results show - after 96 months, there was a 7.1% difference in survival with 🏋️‍♀️🏋️‍♀️structured exercise vs those who only have health education 📚 materials.

In more quantifiable terms, "For every 14 people, exercise prevented 1 from dying".

Some cancer treatment would have the same magnitude of effect 📊- but exercise can cost 0 pesos and with very minor side effects.

Malaki talaga ang use kasi pwede agad gawin. Consult your friendly oncologist before proceeding with structured exercises 💪

It's a good day for our patients with cancer ❤️

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2502760

29/05/2025

I am very excited to meet with fellow oncologists and ASCO mentors in this year's ASCO International Development and Education Award (IDEA) Program💡

I will learn from 28 other early career oncologists and senior ASCO members on how they impact cancer care in their own countries. 🔥🔥🔥

Can't wait to share the wealth of experience and the vast network of collaborators to peers and trainees back at home - just like the IDEA recipients before me :)

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CiZB9XZXP/

23/05/2025

Today is the first anniversary of the St Luke's Hospital based cancer registry 🎂.

Coincidentally, it also marks the conclusion of the 1st workshop of the Philippine Cancer Center for a standardized hospital based-registries guidelines.

I am very grateful to have met people who shaped the national cancer data and to have learned from fellow researchers, the collective struggle of doing research in LMIC.

Thes 2-day workshop leaves me re-energized after seeing the passion and effort of highly skilled professionals with one clear goal - improving the lives of people with cancer through science and high quality data.

Today gives me a lot of hope ❤️

17/05/2025

Catch me later at 2pm with Good Food Community: Food as Medicine!

"This summer, cool down with us with baon-worthy recipes that you can make in advance and take with you on the go!

Learn the principles of eating well, sourcing local nutrient-packed ingredients and cooking techniques that support your values and lifestyle. Dr Charles and the Titas Joyce and Mabi return to the kitchen to promote gulay-eating habits.

Register now to avail of the early bird discount through our website!"

25/04/2025

Samahan kami bukas (Saturday) 2 pm sa Cancer Experts: Philippine Society of Medical Oncology MID YEAR Conference para sa isang facebook live session tungkol sa kanser!

Mag-uusap kami tungkol sa "paano ba ginagamot ang kanser?"At siyempre kailangan rin dito pag-usapan kung paano makakatulong ang Philhealth, Cancer Assistance Fund, Z-package benefits sa pag-fund ng gamutan ng ating mga pasyente?

𝗨𝗦𝗔𝗣𝗔𝗡𝗚 𝗖𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗥 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗣𝗦𝗠𝗢

Sumali sa aming 𝗙𝗔𝗖𝗘𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞 𝗟𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗻𝗴𝗮𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗮𝗯𝗮𝗱𝗼, 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝟮𝟲, 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝘂𝗹𝗮 𝟮:𝟬𝟬𝗣𝗠, upang makapagtanong tungkol sa cancer. Alamin ang mga iba't ibang cancer treatments mula sa ating dalawang cancer experts - Dr. Kristine at Dr. Charles.

Share with your loved ones & together let's raise cancer awareness!

08/04/2025

In this fight against cancer, it's not about one doctor or one treatment.

It requires expertise of multiple health professionals - medical oncologists/cancer doctors, surgeons, radiation oncologists and pathologists etc - working together as a team in providing comprehensive support.

Options on treatment modalities, timing / sequencing, novel therapeutics and clinical trials are reviewed for each patient in these multidisciplinary discussions to ensure that each receives tailored treatment unique to their needs.

However, scheduling and logistical concerns often hound patients and their doctors in having these multi-disciplinary care team recommendations.

I am happy to share that in St. Luke's Medical Center, we formalized a system for these care teams to thrive. The Cancer Specialty Center enables us cancer specialists to give the best recommendations in the shortest time possible.

A recent case from our center gathered a team of pulmonologists, lung oncologists, a lung pathologist, an interventional radiologist and a thoracic surgeon to meet and recommend a treatment plan within a few days' time.

Truly, a remarkable feat for the Cancer Specialty Center initiative!

We hope to continue bringing similar successes to all our patients - improving the quality of cancer care and treatment outcomes for all cancer patients.

For more information, feel free to call Ms. Chube our patient navigator at 639998897234 (Viber or call/text)

Cancer care requires more than just treatment—it demands expertise, collaboration, and unwavering support. At St. Luke’s Quezon City, our Cancer Specialty Center brings together a multidisciplinary team of top cancer specialists, ensuring a comprehensive, personalized approach to your care. From diagnosis to recovery, we stand by you every step of the way.

Message us to connect with our oncologist.

02/03/2025

Evidence-Based Medicine 👨‍🔬 and Community Veggie Cooking? 🥕🫑🥬

Grabe loads of fun!

Thank you to Good Food Community for the opportunity to discuss existing and emerging evidence in using food for cancer care/prevention🦀 during their "Food As Medicine" series last Sunday!

We also tackled how preclinical studies translate into clinical practice and public policy⚖️ and debunking outrageous claims/marketing on food/diet🗯️

To cap it off, we shared our food experiences over cabbage slaw, veggie okonomiyaki and grilled bokchoy in ginger sauce🤤

Next meal prep on March 15!
https://www.goodfoodcommunity.com/products/add-on-meal-prep-club

01/03/2025

Sharing a publication from our Global Oncology Work Group! 🔥

Learned a lot in setting-up collaborative efforts across continents. And most importantly, how a supportive research environment can enable researchers to continuously publish important science.

Link of the paper below 👇

https://ascopubs.org/doi/abs/10.1200/OP-24-00739

we assessed all Phase III trials presented at ASCO 2022, using two key frameworks to evaluate clinical benefit:

🔹 ESMO-Magnitude of Clinical Benefit Scale (ESMO-MCBS)
🔹 ASCO Value Framework (ASCO-VF)

Our findings:
🔹 A high percentage of trials could not be graded due to nonsignificant results (40% for ESMO-MCBS, 44.4% for ASCO-VF)

🔹 ESMO-MCBS identified more studies with substantial clinical benefit than ASCO-VF

🔹 Agreement between the two frameworks was moderate (Cohen’s kappa = 0.48)

🔹 No correlation was found between clinical benefit and research funding or economic status of the trial’s origin country.

09/02/2025

New Clinic Schedule starting February 2025! More HMO affiliations soon for better access to quality health care.

Onsite Clinics:
Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center
Room 613, Medical Arts Building
Tuesday 1-4pm (walk-in and appointment)
Thursday 1-4pm (walk-in and appointment)

St. Luke's Medical Center Quezon City
1208 North Tower, Cathedral Heights Building Complex
Monday 1-3pm (walk-in and appointment)
Wednesday 1-3pm (walk-in and appointment)

The Specialists Surgery and Cancer Center (Fairview Branch)
707 Valiant St, Commonwealth Ave, Quezon City
Monday 9am - 12pm (by appointment only)
Thursday 9am - 12pm (by appointment only)
Kindly contact clinic staff: 09177018517 for scheduling

Health Cube Greenhills
5th Floor, GH Mall, Greenhills Complex, San Juan, 1500 Metro Manila
Wednesday 4-6pm (by appointment only)
Kindly contact: 09760548737 to schedule

Serious MD: Monday to Sunday