This document discusses the concept of "taning sa buhay" which refers to the remaining time someone has to live. It is often asked about patients with life-threatening illnesses like cancer. To estimate "taning sa buhay" for cancer patients, doctors may use median survival rates which show the average length of time half of patients diagnosed with that cancer survive. However, survival statistics can only provide estimates and not determine exactly when someone will die. The document emphasizes that in answering questions about "taning sa buhay", doctors can only give educated guesses, not facts.

1. TANING SA
BUHAY -
MAYROON
BA?
(In Cancer
Patients)
June 10, 2023
1400H - 1500H
Via Zoom
Empowerment
objective - for
laypeople to have an
essential
understanding of
TANING SA BUHAY in
their health
management.

2. June 10, 2023
1400H - 1500H
Via Zoom
Empowerment
objective - for
laypeople to have an
essential
understanding of
TANING SA BUHAY in
their health
management.
Welcome all!
MUTE yourself but always
show your video picture.
Sign in your name, FB
account, or email address in
the Chat Box! Include names
of companions attending.
Use the Chat Box to ask
questions and make
comments while the PEP TALK
is on.
Group pictures at start and
end of PEP TALK – show your
face in video.
TANING SA
BUHAY -
MAYROON
BA?
(In Cancer
Patients)

3. Reminder after the PEP
Talk:
Take the Online Learning
cum Evaluation Test
Exercise (OLETE) for
mastery of learning and
have a perfect score to get
a Certificate.
Link is in Chat Box.

4. Reminder:
50 OLETE Certificates = 1
Voucher for ROJoson
Telemedical Consultation

5. TANING SA
BUHAY
- MAYROON
BA?
Empowerment
objective - for
laypeople to have an
essential
understanding of
TANING SA BUHAY in
their health
management.
ROJOSON’S REQUEST:
FEEDBACK TO THIS
PEP TALK!
Pls. type in your
feedback in the chat
box during the open
forum and before we
adjourn!
Thank you!
TANING SA
BUHAY -
MAYROON
BA?
(In Cancer
Patients)

6. TANING SA
BUHAY
- MAYROON
BA?
Empowerment
objective - for
laypeople to have an
essential
understanding of
TANING SA BUHAY in
their health
management.
LET’S NOW HAVE A
GROUP PICTURE
TAKING BEFORE WE
START PEP TALK
PROPER IN 2
MINUTES!
Pls. turn on your
video!
Show your face!
TANING SA
BUHAY -
MAYROON
BA?
(In Cancer
Patients)

7. TANING SA
BUHAY
- MAYROON
BA?
Empowerment
objective - for
laypeople to have an
essential
understanding of
TANING SA BUHAY in
their health
management.
ROJoson PEP Talk
I have a Patient
Empowerment
Program in which I
like to empower the
lay people or
patients to take
control in the
management of
their health.
TANING SA
BUHAY -
MAYROON
BA?
(In Cancer
Patients)

8. I started the PEP Talk
on May 15, 2021.
There are 3 courses
in the PEP Talk.
I completed the Core
Course on October 9,
2021.

9. From October 23,
2021 onwards, I have
been tackling Health
Disorder and Health
Issue Courses. This
may take 3 years or
longer depending on
our enthusiasm and
perseverance.

10. Empowerment
objective - for
laypeople to have an
essential
understanding of
TANING SA BUHAY in
their health
management.
My PEP TALK today is
entitled:
TANING SA BUHAY
– MAYROON BA?
In consonance with
DOH Health
Awareness Calendar
National Cancer
Survivors Day
(June)
TANING SA
BUHAY
- MAYROON
BA?
TANING SA
BUHAY -
MAYROON
BA?
(In Cancer
Patients)

11. Contents
• Taning sa Buhay – concepts
• Who has Taning sa Buhay?
• How to use the Median Survival Rates for
calculating the Taning of Buhay of Advanced
Cancer Patients?
TANING SA
BUHAY
- MAYROON
BA?
TANING SA
BUHAY -
MAYROON
BA?
(In Cancer
Patients)

12. Often, relatives of patients with cancer would
ask me: “May taning na ba ang buhay niya?”
This question is often asked by relatives and not
by patients themselves (mostly because of fear
of death, still under stress, with a mindset they
will live indefinitely, etc.).
However, some realistic and practical patients
would ask me “May taning na ba ang buhay ko?”
TANING SA
BUHAY -
MAYROON
BA?
(In Cancer
Patients)

13. “May taning na ba ang buhay niya?”
“May taning na ba ang buhay ko?”
To answer these questions is oftentimes
challenging for me.
TANING SA
BUHAY -
MAYROON
BA?
(In Cancer
Patients)

14. One, in the literature, there is no absolute
translation in English nor absolute definition or
meaning of the word “taning.”
I have to probe first what the patients and their
relatives mean when they use the word “taning”
in their questions to me.
Otherwise, I run the risk of creating a
misunderstanding on my answers when I don’t
inquire first on what the patients and relatives
mean by “taning.”
“May taning na ba
ang buhay niya?”
“May taning na ba
ang buhay ko?”
To answer these
questions is
oftentimes
challenging for me.
TANING SA
BUHAY -
MAYROON
BA?
(In Cancer
Patients)

15. Second, in the setting of a cancer diagnosis,
where physicians do not guarantee cure and
where there is always the possibility of
recurrence and death and also, where most
patients are in the state of anxiety and
depression, I have to tailor my answers to the
mindsets of the patients and their relatives so
that I do not create more undue anxiety and
depression or give false hopes. In other words, I
have to consider the psychological makeup and
status of the patients and their relatives when I
give my answers, especially if they are on the
dimmer side.
“May taning na ba
ang buhay niya?”
“May taning na ba
ang buhay ko?”
To answer these
questions is
oftentimes
challenging for me.
TANING SA
BUHAY -
MAYROON
BA?
(In Cancer
Patients)

16. Looking at the literature and from personal
experience, when somebody ask me in the
setting of a cancer diagnosis “may taning ba sa
buhay,” the question usually connotes the
following: Is the patient going or about to die
already and how long will the patient still live.
In other words, the connotation of “taning sa
buhay” is that the remaining days of life of a
patient are numbered already.
“May taning na ba
ang buhay niya?”
“May taning na ba
ang buhay ko?”
To answer these
questions is
oftentimes
challenging for me.
TANING SA
BUHAY -
MAYROON
BA?
(In Cancer
Patients)

17. In the literature, I saw a definition of “taning sa
buhay” – “has been a given a date for death.” I
hope the “date” does not mean a day in a month
or year specified by a number.
Otherwise, I don’t accept this definition as
nobody knows (even physicians cannot tell) the
exact time of the day, the exact day in the
calendar that a patient will die.
“May taning na ba
ang buhay niya?”
“May taning na ba
ang buhay ko?”
To answer these
questions is
oftentimes
challenging for me.
TANING SA
BUHAY -
MAYROON
BA?
(In Cancer
Patients)

18. They can only give an estimate of the “when” of
death based on established statistics; type of
cancer; extent of the cancer; complications of
the cancer and their severity; general health
status of the patient on top of the cancer; and
personal experience (if they have).
TANING SA
BUHAY
- MAYROON
BA?
“May taning na ba
ang buhay niya?”
“May taning na ba
ang buhay ko?”
To answer these
questions is
oftentimes
challenging for me.
TANING SA
BUHAY -
MAYROON
BA?
(In Cancer
Patients)

19. Nobody and no physician for that matter, can say
a patient will die on May 6, 2024. At best, the
physician can say that, based on data on hand
(established statistics; type of cancer; extent of
the cancer; complications of the cancer and their
severity; general health status of the patient on
top of the cancer; and personal experience), the
patient has only about three months to live; the
patient has only about one year to live; etc.
“May taning na ba
ang buhay niya?”
“May taning na ba
ang buhay ko?”
To answer these
questions is
oftentimes
challenging for me.
TANING SA
BUHAY -
MAYROON
BA?
(In Cancer
Patients)

20. Again, I have to emphasize the word “ESTIMATE.”
Any number given to the amount of days, weeks,
months, or years a patient will still be alive or
will die, when answering the question on “taning
sa buhay” will just be an ESTIMATE or an
EDUCATED GUESS.
Nobody, no physician can tell when exactly a
patient will die. However, an ESTIMATE can be
done based on the conditions that I stated
above.
TANING SA
BUHAY
- MAYROON
BA?
“May taning na ba
ang buhay niya?”
“May taning na ba
ang buhay ko?”
To answer these
questions is
oftentimes
challenging for me.
TANING SA
BUHAY -
MAYROON
BA?
(In Cancer
Patients)

21. “May taning sa buhay” is a question usually asked in patients
who have diseases that are classified under “dread diseases”
or life-threatening diseases. Examples are cancers,
Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, heart disease, loss of
limbs, organ transplants, paralysis, blindness, coma, and
others.
However, most the time, from experience, the question is
usually asked at the time there is already progression of
diseases in which there is no known curable treatment. It is
also usually being asked when patients are in a state of severe
complications of the disease or in apparent or evident near-
death situation.
TANING SA
BUHAY -
MAYROON
BA?
(In Cancer
Patients)

22. It is not usually asked in all persons despite the
fact that everyone knows every person will die
someday.
Strictly speaking, everybody every person has a
“taning sa buhay” as everybody will all die
someday. We just don’t know when we will die.
It may be soon, sooner or later. That’s our
“taning sa buhay.”
In a sense, our days on earth are numbered.
TANING SA
BUHAY -
MAYROON
BA?
(In Cancer
Patients)

23. Recent studies show that nobody will go beyond
150 years old. The longest recorded life span is
124 years old.
Also, people, both in health and insurances, have
monitored and calculated life expectancy of
population and the probability of death in a
certain age group (actuarial studies).
TANING SA
BUHAY -
MAYROON
BA?
(In Cancer
Patients)

24. Life expectancy is the statistical measure of
estimate of the life span of people. It tells us the
average number of years a person who has
attained a certain age can expect to live.
Current statistics show 71 years as the average
life expectancy of Filipinos. Life expectancy of
Filipino males is 67 and females, 76. There is a “taning sa
buhay!”
TANING SA
BUHAY -
MAYROON
BA?
(In Cancer
Patients)

25. Actuarial studies are popularly used by insurance
companies for forecasting life expectancy of
clients and for pricing.
Actuarial age is an individual's life expectancy
based on calculations and statistical modeling.
Actuaries use mathematical and statistical
computations to predict a person's life
expectancy, or his or her actuarial age. There is a “taning sa
buhay!”
TANING SA
BUHAY -
MAYROON
BA?
(In Cancer
Patients)

26. Sample of Actuarial Studies
Age Death Probability (within one
year)
Life Expectancy (average
remaining number of
years expected prior to
death)
1 0.000410 73.55
10 0.000127 64.67
40 0.003333 36.97
50 0.005998 28.33
60 0.013485 20.47
70 0.026137 13.59
80 0.065568 7.74
90 0.182632 3.72
100 0.384967 1.93
110 0.627071 1.05
There is a “taning sa
buhay!”
TANING SA
BUHAY -
MAYROON
BA?
(In Cancer
Patients)

27. As mentioned,
“May taning sa buhay” is a question usually
asked in patients who have diseases that are
classified under “dread diseases” or life-
threatening diseases.
The question is usually asked at the time there is
already progression of diseases in which there is
no known curable treatment.
It is also usually being asked when patients are in
a state of severe complications of the disease or
in apparent or evident near-death situation.
Strictly speaking,
even without a dread
disease, all persons
have a “taning sa
buhay.”
TANING SA
BUHAY -
MAYROON
BA?
(In Cancer
Patients)

28. However, the question is easier to answer for
those with diagnosed incurable diseases,
advanced staged incurable diseases and those
who are in the stage of near death.
However, just the same, only ESTIMATE can be
given by the physicians.
“May taning na ba
ang buhay niya?”
“May taning na ba
ang buhay ko?”
TANING SA
BUHAY -
MAYROON
BA?
(In Cancer
Patients)

29. In cancer patients, “may taning na ba ang buhay”
is usually answered with the help of the so-called
median survival rates.
At times, 5-year or 10-year survival rates may be
used to make ESTIMATE.
“May taning na ba
ang buhay niya?”
“May taning na ba
ang buhay ko?”
TANING SA
BUHAY -
MAYROON
BA?
(In Cancer
Patients)

30. Median survival rate is the length of time from
either the date of diagnosis or the start of
treatment for a disease, such as cancer, that half
of the patients in a group of patients diagnosed
with the disease are still alive or half of the
patients have died.
“May taning na ba
ang buhay niya?”
“May taning na ba
ang buhay ko?”
TANING SA
BUHAY -
MAYROON
BA?
(In Cancer
Patients)

31. 5-year survival rate is the percentage of people
who are alive five years after they were
diagnosed with or started treatment for a
disease.
10-year survival rate is the percentage of people
who are alive ten years after they were
diagnosed with or started treatment for a
disease.
“May taning na ba
ang buhay niya?”
“May taning na ba
ang buhay ko?”
TANING SA
BUHAY -
MAYROON
BA?
(In Cancer
Patients)

32. Between 5- or 10-year survival rates and median
survival which is expressed in months or years,
median survival is more frequently used to
estimate the taning of buhay of patients with
advanced cancers.
Median survival is a statistic that refers to how
long patients survive with a disease or after a
certain treatment.
“May taning na ba
ang buhay niya?”
“May taning na ba
ang buhay ko?”
TANING SA
BUHAY -
MAYROON
BA?
(In Cancer
Patients)

33. To repeat, to answer the question: “may taning
na ba ang buhay ko” in cancer patients, estimate
based on statistics can be used.
However, it must be remembered that statistics
are only estimates that describe trends in large
numbers of people or patients.
They can help with predictions, but they cannot
tell what will actually happen to a particular
person or patient.
“May taning na ba
ang buhay niya?”
“May taning na ba
ang buhay ko?”
TANING SA
BUHAY -
MAYROON
BA?
(In Cancer
Patients)

34. Physicians can only give an estimate of the
“when” of death based on established statistics;
type of cancer; extent of the cancer;
complications of the cancer and their severity;
general health status of the patient on top of the
cancer; and personal experience (if they have).
“May taning na ba
ang buhay niya?”
“May taning na ba
ang buhay ko?”
TANING SA
BUHAY -
MAYROON
BA?
(In Cancer
Patients)

35. Factors influencing “Taning ng buhay” in cancer
patients:
• Type of cancer (fast-growing, not fast-growing)
• Stage of cancer (advanced, not advanced)
• Treatment (not controllable; controllable; not
curable; curable)
• General Health Status (severe co-morbidities;
not severe or no co-morbidities)
• Age – usually not for cancers; usually
extremely old age; usually with severe co-
morbidities
These have to be
factored in when
using median
survival rates.
TANING SA
BUHAY -
MAYROON
BA?
(In Cancer
Patients)

36. Age factor
Approximately 13 % of women with primary
stage IV breast cancer survive 10 years after
diagnosis. Women diagnosed with stage IV
breast cancer before age 50 have better survival
at 10 years compared to older women.
10-y-SR
- 15.7 % for women ages 40 and below
- 14.9 % for women ages 41-50
- 11.7 % for women ages above 50
“May taning na ba
ang buhay niya?”
“May taning na ba
ang buhay ko?”
TANING SA
BUHAY -
MAYROON
BA?
(In Cancer
Patients)

37. Factors influencing “Taning ng buhay” in cancer patients:
Age – usually not for cancers; usually extremely old age; usually with
severe co-morbidities
A lot of people use AGE (matanda na) as a reason for NOT going for
cancer treatment.
We have to qualify this.
GUIDELINES:
If the cancer is more than 50% chance REMEDIABLE despite patient
being OLD, even 90 years and above, go for the treatment.
If not, one can forego the cancer treatment.
TANING SA
BUHAY -
MAYROON
BA?
(In Cancer
Patients)

38. Note:
Five-year survival rates and median survival rates
are available for each stage, but it’s important for
patients and families to understand that these
numbers represent an average.
Every patient is different, and what works for
one person might not work for another—and
vice versa.
“May taning na ba
ang buhay niya?”
“May taning na ba
ang buhay ko?”
Am I going to die
soon?
How long can I still
live?
TANING SA
BUHAY -
MAYROON
BA?
(In Cancer
Patients)

39. Cancers “May taning na ba
ang buhay niya?”
“May taning na ba
ang buhay ko?”
Am I going to die
soon?
How long can I still
live?
Stage 5-year Survival
Rates
Median Survival
Rates
I
II
III
IV
TANING SA
BUHAY -
MAYROON
BA?
(In Cancer
Patients)
Factor in: specific type of cancers; extent; growth
rate; effective treatment; general health status;
age; etc.

40. Examples and Illustrations
Application of Taning sa Buhay in cancer patients
A 65-year-old female patient with pancreatic
cancer.
Early stage
Advanced stage
Question: May taning na ba ang buhay niya?
“May taning na ba
ang buhay niya?”
“May taning na ba
ang buhay ko?”
Am I going to die
soon?
How long can I still
live?
TANING SA
BUHAY -
MAYROON
BA?
(In Cancer
Patients)

41. Examples and Illustrations
Application of Taning sa Buhay in cancer patients
A 65-year-old female patient with pancreatic
cancer.
Early stage
Less likely not to have taning but still with taning
(days are numbered)
Advanced stage
More likely to have taning (days are numbered)
“May taning na ba
ang buhay niya?”
“May taning na ba
ang buhay ko?”
Am I going to die
soon?
How long can I still
live?
TANING SA
BUHAY -
MAYROON
BA?
(In Cancer
Patients)

42. Examples and Illustrations
Application of Taning sa Buhay in cancer patients
A 65-year-old female patient with pancreatic
cancer.
Early stage
Average pancreatic cancer survival time is 3 to
3.5 years. (5-year survival rate: 20 -30%)
Advanced stage
Average survival time is 1 year. (5-year survival
rate: 1%)
“May taning na ba
ang buhay niya?”
“May taning na ba
ang buhay ko?”
Am I going to die
soon?
How long can I still
live?
TANING SA
BUHAY -
MAYROON
BA?
(In Cancer
Patients)
May taning na ang
buhay

43. Examples and Illustrations
Application of Taning sa Buhay in cancer patients
A female patient with Stage 4 breast cancer.
Question: May taning na ba ang buhay niya?
All of us, even without an illness, have taning sa buhay.
If you are referring to a higher probability of dying with
Stage 4 breast cancer, when you say taning sa buhay, then
the answer is YES.
Those without diseases have a lowest probability of dying.
Those with earlier stages of breast cancer, they also have
taning, but have a lower probability of dying.
“May taning na ba
ang buhay niya?”
“May taning na ba
ang buhay ko?”
TANING SA
BUHAY -
MAYROON
BA?
(In Cancer
Patients)

44. Examples and Illustrations
A female patient with Stage 4 breast cancer.
Question: May taning na ba ang buhay niya?
If you want an ESTIMATE of the remaing life span of this patient,
you can use MEDIAN SURVIVAL rates.
The MEDIAN SURVIVAL RATE is 3 years with Stage 4 breast cancers.
Thus, the estimated life expectancy of this patient is 3 years – but
may be sooner or later – there is no absoluteness in this.
“May taning na ba
ang buhay niya?”
“May taning na ba
ang buhay ko?”
TANING SA
BUHAY -
MAYROON
BA?
(In Cancer
Patients)

45. Examples and Illustrations
A female patient with Stage 4 breast cancer.
Question: May taning na ba ang buhay niya?
Note: Median SR for Stage 4 with different sites of mets are different.
• Lung – longest – 58.5 months
• Bone – 44.8 months (others: 12 – 33 months)
• Liver – 36.7 months (others: 4-8 months)
• Brain – worst - 7.35 months
“May taning na ba
ang buhay niya?”
“May taning na ba
ang buhay ko?”
TANING SA
BUHAY -
MAYROON
BA?
(In Cancer
Patients)

46. Colorectal cancers with liver metastases “May taning na ba
ang buhay niya?”
“May taning na ba
ang buhay ko?”
Am I going to die
soon?
How long can I still
live?
Stage 5-year Survival
Rates
Median Survival
Rates
I
II
III
IV 11% - 15% 5 – 20 months
TANING SA
BUHAY -
MAYROON
BA?
(In Cancer
Patients)
Factor in: specific type of cancers; extent; growth
rate; effective treatment; general health status;
age; etc.
In most cases, cancer
that has spread to the
liver cannot be cured.

47. Hepatocellular carcinomas, advanced “May taning na ba
ang buhay niya?”
“May taning na ba
ang buhay ko?”
Am I going to die
soon?
How long can I still
live?
Stage 5-year Survival
Rates
Median Survival
Rates
I 36%
II
III
IV 12% 6-20 months
TANING SA
BUHAY -
MAYROON
BA?
(In Cancer
Patients)
Factor in: specific type of cancers; extent; growth
rate; effective treatment; general health status;
age; etc.

48. Cancers “May taning na ba
ang buhay niya?”
“May taning na ba
ang buhay ko?”
Am I going to die
soon?
How long can I still
live?
Stage 5-year Survival
Rates
Median Survival
Rates
I
II
III
IV
TANING SA
BUHAY -
MAYROON
BA?
(In Cancer
Patients)
Factor in: specific type of cancers; extent; growth
rate; effective treatment; general health status;
age; etc.

49. Contents
• Taning sa Buhay – concepts
• Who has Taning sa Buhay?
• How to use the Median Survival Rates for
calculating the Taning of Buhay of Advanced
Cancer Patients?
TANING SA
BUHAY
- MAYROON
BA?
TANING SA
BUHAY -
MAYROON
BA?
(In Cancer
Patients)
Summary
Take Away

50. Be always in touch with reliable medical
information on TANING SA BUHAY!
Knowledge is power; it gives power.
Use the 4Ks of Patient Empowerment:
Kaalaman, Kakayanan, Karapatan and
Kapangyarihan
to gain greater control over decisions /
make better decisions in TANING SA
BUHAY issues in one’s health
management.
Take Away in
relation to
Patient
Empowerment
TANING SA
BUHAY -
MAYROON
BA?
(In Cancer
Patients)

51. Empowerment
objective - for
laypeople to have an
essential
understanding of
TANING SA BUHAY in
their health
management.
TANING SA
BUHAY -
MAYROON
BA?
(In Cancer
Patients)

52. Reminder after the PEP
Talk:
Take the Online Learning
cum Evaluation Test
Exercise (OLETE) for
mastery of learning and
have a perfect score to get
a Certificate.
Link is in Chat Box.

53. Reminder:
50 OLETE Certificates = 1
Voucher for ROJoson
Telemedical Consultation

54. TANING SA
BUHAY
- MAYROON
BA?
Empowerment
objective - for
laypeople to have an
essential
understanding of
TANING SA BUHAY in
their health
management.
ROJOSON’S REQUEST:
FEEDBACK TO THIS
PEP TALK!
Pls. type in your
feedback in the chat
box during the open
forum and before we
adjourn!
Thank you!
TANING SA
BUHAY -
MAYROON
BA?
(In Cancer
Patients)

55. TANING SA
BUHAY
- MAYROON
BA?
Empowerment
objective - for
laypeople to have an
essential
understanding of
TANING SA BUHAY in
their health
management.
LET’S NOW HAVE A
GROUP PICTURE
TAKING BEFORE WE
START Q&A AND
INTERACTIONS!
Pls. turn on your
video!
Show your face!
TANING SA
BUHAY -
MAYROON
BA?
(In Cancer
Patients)