Czarina's Pink Ribbon Breakfast

Cancer and cure can be said in the same sentence. Early detection is key.

Wednesday 9th Oct

I was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer Grade 2 in May 2022. I went through aggressive treatment from May to early December that year which included 2 surgeries, 4 months of chemotherapy and 15 rounds of radiation. By Christmas that year it was all done and ready to celebrate. 

Two years out from my diagnosis, I can say I am living my best life. I feel so good, that this May just past, I undertook a pilgrimage walk, "El Camino de Santiago" with my parents and we walked 114km in 9 days. For me, it was a celebration of life and God’s blessings.

I learned that thanks to research, Breast Cancer and Cure can be said in the same sentence. My hope is to raise breast cancer awareness and much needed funds for continued groundbreaking research into breast cancer.

Breast cancer awareness means to be breast aware.  Put simply, know what normal feels like. You can do your check when you are doing  normal things like taking a shower, placing lotion, getting dressed, looking in the mirror. The things you do every day. I was always checking my breast at least once a month since I was in high school even though I didn’t know what I was looking for. But the moment I felt something different, I knew I needed to get it checked. Most of time, it is not cancer. And it is better to know what it is. In my case, it was cancerous, but we caught it early.

Early detection is best. The five-year relative survival rate for women with early stage (stage 1) breast cancer in Australia is 100%. Cancer and cure can be said in the same sentence. The goal of the national breast cancer foundation is to achieve zero deaths from breast cancer.

In addition to being breast aware, in Australia, Breast cancer screening is available for free for women aged 40 and over. Just speak with your GP.

 

I have one ask, this October month, when you are at your next family gathering, and you go to greet your mum, your wife, your sisters, your Tita’s your cousins, just ask them, are you checking your breast?

Don’t be shy and let’s talk about it!

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Mental health. Let’s talk about it.

Sunday 6th Oct If cancer taught me one thing, it’s how fragile our mental health can be. I heard it be explained recently that our mental health is like a piece of string. When stretched tight end to end, we are at our strongest. But it takes hard work to keep it in that state, and that hard work is also hard work! There were times when my body refused to take even one step. When getting out of bed was the hardest thing to do. At times it was because of physical pain, but most of the time it was because I was exhausted from fighting negative thoughts. I know for certain that staying positive was key to my getting through the bad days and just like holding tight that piece of string, staying positive took a lot of hard work. As hard as it was, I learned that IT IS OKAY TO ASK FOR HELP, no matter what it is you are going through. Please re-read that last sentence as many times as you need to for there is no shame in asking for help. If you or a loved one is going through some hard times, please know there is so much support out there. You can reach out to your friends and family, and if that feels too hard, speak to your doctor. Also, your place of work will most likely have an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to access free counselling and mental health professionals. EAP maintains your privacy so nothing you say goes back to your employer. It’s all confidential and it’s available to you and your family at no cost. It takes hard work to hold tight on to that piece of string and you don’t need to do it on your own. No one does. #LetsTalkAboutIt #BreastCancerAwareness #NBCF Share

10 May 2022 - Day 1

Tuesday 1st Oct Born in the Philippines, raised in Sydney Australia, at 44 years old, I was diagnosed with stage 2 hormone positive breast cancer, and lymph node involvement. My treatment plan was 2 surgeries to remove the tumour and get to clear margins, 16 rounds of chemo over 4 months, followed by 15 rounds of radiation and 5 years of hormone blockers. 10 May 2022 was my “day 1”. “Breast Cancer”and “cure”can be said in the same sentence, but treatment plans are aggressive and the side effects will stretch your body and your mind to its limits. At times, all you have control over is your breath. The moment I received my breast cancer diagnosis was a moment met with shock, disbelief, and fear. So many thoughts going through my mind, and yet it was as if the world stood still. Two years out post diagnosis, I am cancer free and living my best life. In Australia, 58 women are diagnosed with breast cancer every day. Early detection is so important. A breast cancer diagnosis is scary. I hope that by sharing my story, we might help a friend, family member, colleague, going through the same. This October month, please help me share my story and raise fund towards much needed breast cancer research. Share