Conquering the Big C: 4 Moms Share their Breast Cancer Survival Stories

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but we all should know that we must spread awareness about breast cancer even beyond October, especially since the disease is becoming more and more common among Filipino women.

In fact, according to a 2013 GMA News report, the Philippines “has the highest incidence of breast cancer” in Asia, with an “estimated 3 out of 100 Filipino women” contracting the disease before age 75. In 2012, the Philippine Society of Medical Oncology also reported that “1 out of every 100” Filipinas will die of breast cancer before they turn 75.

This just goes to show why we need to help educating ourselves – and others – about the disease, its prevention and treatment. We must also do what we can to help those who are battling breast cancer – and one of the things we can do is to encourage them by sharing inspiring stories of women who have fought against the disease and won.

Here are the stories of four such women – may their testimonies give hope and strength to those who are facing “the big C,” and even those who aren’t.


Joy Varca-Pulido: Embracing Every Day
Joy is a 41-year-old pediatrician who practices in Balanga, Bataan. She is also the loving wife of Tolits, and “Nanay” to Bebang, 14, and Bentong, 11.

“I was 37 years old when my biopsy came back positive for invasive ductal carcinoma,” Joy shares. “My husband was the one who noticed a small monggo-sized mass and we had an excision biopsy done.”


Cancer came as a surprise
Joy’s family history showed one breast cancer case – a maternal aunt – but she was otherwise “healthy.”

“I was a non-smoker, I breastfed my children and I had regular breast ultrasounds done,” she enumerates. “A mammogram a year before my diagnosis had normal results.”

Needless to say, when Joy was diagnosed with breast cancer, she and her family were in shock.

“My eldest was 10 years old while my youngest was just 6,” she recalls. “The excision biopsy was done on June 17, and the results of the biopsy were relayed to us by our pathologist friend after five days.

“I knew the results were not good because when I arrived home after my clinic hours, my husband was already crying,” Joy continues. “We had just recently lost my mother-in-law to pancreatic cancer, and now we were fighting cancer again.

“I was so angry, I was crying and shrieking for almost an hour. I immediately thought of my children. Hindi ako pwedeng mamatay! I would gladly undergo anything and everything for them.”

Joy says that the hardest part was telling her mother. “I had to tell her over the phone because they are based in Los Baños. I'm the eldest child, and my sisters were quick to rally behind me. My other relatives also called and sent me messages of prayers.”

The road to remission
Two days after Joy learned of the results, she had a modified radical mastectomy or MRM on her left breast at UP-PGH. “My surgeon was Dr. Rodney Dofitas, our ‘brod’ in MU Sigma Phi, and my anesthesiologist was my sorority ‘sis’ Dr. Joan Ocubillo,” she shares. “On the day of my operation, my extended family travelled to Manila to be with me. Our barkada brought our children to visit on my first post-op day.
 
“After the MRM, I had 6 cycles of chemotherapy, followed by 25 sessions of radiotherapy. Due to my young age, we were aggressive with our treatment options. I had Stage 1A cancer and was declared cancer-free after a year. I have been in remission since 2011. So far, so good!”


Allies along the way
Joy says she could not have survived her fight against breast cancer without the love and support of those around her.

“My husband, who is also a doctor, is my rock,” she declares. “I never doubted that he would find my ‘one boobed-ness’ sexy; I knew that he would not leave me alone in this fight. He changed my dressings, and gave me my first post-op bath.”

Joy’s mom also helped her a lot. “Mama accompanied me to my radiotherapy sessions. She travelled all the way from Los Baños to Manila and happily waited for me at the hospital,” she shares.

The kindness of other people in Joy’s life also gave her strength. “My friends drove me to my chemo sessions whenever my husband couldn’t. My sisters were always with me in thoughts and prayers,” she says.

Joy’s children also became a source of comfort during those trying times. “The night before my operation, I was quietly praying and crying when my daughter laid down beside me and just hugged me.”

"My husband is my rock. I never doubted that he would find my ‘one boobed-ness’ sexy; I knew that he would not leave me alone in this fight."

Life is short; trust in the Lord
Because of her experience, Joy wants to encourage others who might be going through the same thing – and even those who aren’t.

“Life is short. We have to embrace every day, be thankful every day, savor every moment,” she emphasizes. “Family is the most important thing. My love for my children and my family motivates me to overcome all hardships.”

For those who are battling cancer right now, Joy has this special message:

“You are not defined by your cancer. It is not your destiny nor your fate to be a victim of cancer. You can fight it; we can overcome it. Place your trust in the Lord for in Him everything will fall into place. The Lord will never fail. We may not entirely understand the reasons why we have or had breast cancer but we will always understand the reasons why we have to overcome it.”

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Sairah Futalan: Take Care of Yourself and Surrender to God
Sairah was 46 years old when she found out she had breast cancer. Now 52, this financial advisor, loving wife to Rene, and devoted mom to Jay, 25, Jim, 23, and Nathan, 19, shares her experience with us.


Positive for cancer
“I had a prolonged and profuse menstrual flow for two weeks, so I went to my OB-gyne for treatment,” Sairah recounts. “I mentioned that I had felt a very small nodule (the size of a monggo bean) on the upper part of my right breast.”

This prompted Sairah’s doctor to refer her to a breast surgeon. A mammogram and breast ultrasound were done, and the results were highly suggestive for malignancy – “almost certainly cancer,” Sairah shares.

“I underwent a core needle biopsy to get some tissues for examination. The biopsy confirmed the most dreaded news – I had cancer.

“My initial reaction was shock, then fear that I might have only a few months to live, as I equated cancer with death,” she continues.

Her two older children were in college then and, despite the shocking news, they were thankful that their mother’s cancer was detected early so that she could get medical help.

“However, our youngest son Nathan, who was a sophomore high school student then, was devastated, as his classmate’s mom had just passed away due to cancer,” Sariah shares.


The long road to recovery
Once Sariah’s diagnosis was finalized, she knew she had a long road ahead of her. “I underwent a total radical mastectomy of my right breast, six cycles of chemotherapy (done every 21 days), and then 33 sessions of radiotherapy,” she enumerates.

“The doctor also prescribed oral medicines: I took Tamoxifen, an estrogen blocker, for two years, then Aromatase for three years. Aromatase decreases the amount of estrogen produced by the body. I also had Zometa injections to help reduce and delay bone complications caused by cancer.”

Through it all, Sariah remained hopeful – and grateful for the love and support of others. “I am thankful to my family, especially my husband who served as my caregiver, crying buddy and prayer partner during my ordeal,” she shares. “I am grateful to friends and churchmates who comforted us through prayers and financial help.”


Advice from a breast cancer survivor
Sariah wants people to know that cancer “has no respect for age, gender and status.” “The cause of it can be genetic or sporadic,” she continues. “So be vigilant and prioritize wellness.”

She also advises women to have annual check-ups. “Go for a mammogram, breast ultrasound, pap smear, etc.,” she emphasizes.

To everyone in general, she says, “Eat a balanced diet. Have enough rest. Learn to manage stress.”

And for those who do have cancer and are reading this now, Sariah wishes to encourage you:

“Do not wallow in misery when you find out that you have cancer – accept the reality and seek necessary medical help at once as cancer is an aggressive disease that has to be addressed outright.

“Be educated about the disease. There are government and non-government organizations that can be of help to cancer patients, like PCSO, the Philippine Cancer Society, and I Can Serve Foundation.

“Last, but certainly not the least, pray and trust God. Philippians 4: 6, 7 says, ‘Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.’”

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Tessa Maylad: “I’m Stronger than I Think I Am”
Tessa is 38 years old and works as a “sales support staff.” She and her husband had one child when she learned she had cancer.


In denial at first
“I was 30 years old then. I felt a lump on my upper right breast while taking a shower so I immediately consulted my OB-gyn, who referred me to a breast surgeon,” Tessa shares. “At that time, Gela, our eldest, was only 2 years old. She’s 9 now, and has a younger sister, Bea, who is 5.”

Tessa admits that the diagnosis left her reeling. “While I was at my doctor's clinic together with my husband, I was in denial. ‘Why did it have to be me?!’ I asked.

“I was so young that time, and the first thing that came to my mind was my two-year-old daughter who still needed me.”


Surviving cancer with the support of others
Tessa credits her support system for helping her during her cancer treatments. “It’s a good thing I have very supportive and loving family and friends. All I had to do was go through my treatments and get better,” she shares.

“My husband deserves most of the credit for my coping with cancer,” she continues. “He was with me the during my whole cancer journey – he went with me to all my chemo sessions, and picked me up after my radiation therapy. He and my daughter gave me more than enough reason to fight and overcome cancer.”  

Tessa says her parents and siblings were also “in full support” of her. “They did everything they could to help me beat the cancer.”
 
“I had a lumpectomy with axillary node dissection, 6 sessions of chemotherapy and 30 sessions of radiation therapy,” she continues. “The first two years after treatment were crucial since that’s the time when cancer usually recurs. When you pass the first 5 years, it means there’s a lesser chance of recurrence.”

Come February 2016, Tessa will happily be able to say that she has been cancer-free for 8 years.


“Changed forever”
 Tessa says her journey with cancer has helped her realize many important things. “After the last treatment, I knew my life had been forever changed by cancer. I realized I could not return to my old life because I became a different person after the crisis,” she shares.  

“Having gone through chemo and radiation was like going to hell and back. I have battled the worst and have come out victorious.”  

Tessa adds that she has also learned that “God can use cancer as a tool to reverse our lives and make them better.”

“Sometimes, it has to take cancer to give us the clarity we need in our lives; that our lives are always for something bigger and better. Breast cancer changed me physically, emotionally and spiritually.  

“I learned a great deal about my capacity for courage, for empathy, and for love. If there's one thing that cancer has taught me, it's that I am stronger than I think I am.”

So if you’re a cancer patient reading this, or know someone who is, Tessa has this short but powerful message for you:

“There is life after cancer. Life is beautiful after cancer.”   

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Ninna Estrella-Yuson: “I Was Pregnant When I Discovered I Had Breast Cancer”
Ninna was 35 years old and 20 weeks pregnant when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. A pediatric dentist by profession, Ninna vividly recalls that moment when she was told about the devastating news.

“We live abroad but I was home in Manila to celebrate my dad’s 75th birthday. I was 16 weeks pregnant and noticed a lump in my breast. My husband, who is also a doctor, and our OB friends, thought it was a benign tumor (or fibroadenoma) in pregnancy and that I'd just have it checked the next time I saw my OB.

“So I went to my OB for my 20-week pregnancy checkup. She, too, wasn't concerned but recommended that an ultrasound be done just to be safe (mammograms are contraindicated in pregnancy).  She then said she would call me in a week with the results.”

But, to Ninna’s surprise, the results came sooner than expected. “Within two hours of my ultrasound appointment, I was back at my OB’s office with my husband. It was her day off, but she was coming in just to see me.

“When I entered her office, she hadn't even taken her coat off. Her voice was breaking when she told me about the suspected malignancy. The tumor was 6 cm in size – about ¬the size of my fist – and 2 or more lymph nodes were involved.”


Ready for the fight of her life
Ninna took the news of her cancer more calmly than expected. “My mom died of lung cancer when I was 23. I knew that there was something wrong when my OB called, so I just prayed while driving and asked my mom to keep me strong.

“I was pretty calm (well, numb actually) when I was told of the diagnosis. My hubby and OB seemed more shaken. I had gone through this before with my mom and I work with so many kids with cancer. I actually wanted to go back to work but both my OB and husband, Chino, were adamant that I take the day off.”

“I was diagnosed on a Tuesday and within six days, I had done all the tests and seen all the doctors I needed to, ready for my first chemo infusion.”

After her initial reaction, Ninna’s maternal instincts kicked in. “I had two nights to grieve, cry, ask why, and I was pretty angry. Then, I had to let it go and was ready to fight and take on whatever I needed to do to live and keep my baby boy healthy.”

Ninna says breaking the news to her family members wasn’t easy. “I don't remember the reactions of our families actually,” she shares. “It was a crazy fast week.

“I had one cousin here who wept the tears I could not shed when I told her the news. I think we told our families via FaceTime after I met my surgeon and had a treatment plan. They all kept it together but were of course worried.

“Chino was calm and would send them detailed emails about my cancer, treatment plan and prognosis. Our families (his and mine) even got together for a meal to plan and map out the next year as regards who could come to Australia to visit and help us out once the baby was born.”


Cancer treatment during and after pregnancy
“Since my initial tumor was large and had spread to lymph nodes, my doctors recommended neo-adjuvant chemotherapy,” Ninna shares. “I actually started with chemo to help shrink the tumor and systemically attack any cancer cells that may be spreading.”

The chemotherapy was followed by a radical mastectomy and axillary clearance, and then five weeks of radiotherapy. “I had seven months of chemo because I took a month off to give birth to my ‘Ninnja warrior’ Elias,” Ninna says. “Treatment was about 11 months all inclusive.”

Ninna is very grateful to have survived those difficult months. “I was very lucky; somehow protected by my baby, I think. I had complete imaging response post-chemo and complete pathological response post-surgery. That means that both chemo and surgery eradicated the disease,” she explains.

“My surgeon told me, the day after surgery, to believe I am cancer-free. I wasn't cured just yet, but I was cancer-free. Radiotherapy was just icing on the cake to ensure my long life (hopefully).”

Remission, though, was another story. Says Ninna, “My initial presentation was high risk. In my case, statistically, the odds improve if one is cancer-free for two years. So, my odds for survival increase if I manage to stay cancer-free for two years. This means I can only celebrate remission next year.”


Surrounded by “warriors”
“Chino and my Ninnja warrior were my biggest inspiration and sources of strength,” Ninna recalls. “We had a lot on our plate: I was undergoing chemo, pregnant, buying/moving house and we were both securing jobs.

“Chemo would knock me out for about 5 to 6 days, but I forced myself to eat soup and crackers made by our close friend every start of chemo, just to keep Elias growing. Throwing up and being sick was not an option when you had a baby growing inside you.”

Coping with cancer in another country also made for a different experience. “Everything in Australia is outpatient. I would go in for four hours for my infusion and go home with my calendar list of meds,” Ninna shares.

“I had to remember to take the medications because sometimes I was home alone, though Chino or my cousin would occasionally stay with me a few hours post-chemo when they were free. But I'd regain strength by the end of the week. The next 2 weeks, I'd go back to work. And then we would do it all over again.”

Despite all her challenges, Ninna continued to help others as a doctor. “I had to work. I love my job and the kids inspired me to be brave,” she shares. “I worked at the children's hospital and saw kids with much more difficult situations and diseases who would manage to always come in with a smile.”

Besides her patients, Ninna was also encouraged and motivated by her husband and son.

“Chino was amazing; he carried all our loads,” she proudly declares. “He would always update our family and friends about everything so they didn't feel like they were in the dark being so far away.

“He understood what needed to be done and knew how to manage whatever side effects I went through.  He'd work long hours but still manage to come home and take care of me, especially when I was too weak to get up.  

“He kept me sane and positive. He was my strength and there was nothing we couldn't handle together because of him.”

The precious baby in Ninna’s womb also kept her going. “My surgeon says that ‘Babyccino’ (that's what we called Elias before he was born) protected me. He kept me resilient,” she shares.

“I've always called him my ‘Ninnja warrior,’ because despite all the toxins and crazy things I took, he would kick and hiccup to let his mama know he was always with her.

“He was the reason I didn't really get sick. The prospect of being a mom gave me extra reserves and the will to live. And even after he was born, and I had 10 more weeks of weekly chemo, Elias was still my driving force.”

Ninna recalls how she would get excited to pick Elias up from their friend’s house after her chemo sessions, to feed and take care of him.

“He was such a smiley baby and gave me endless amounts of energy. I'm no superwoman. I'd get tired too but I had to learn to balance being a new mom and managing the side effects of chemo.

“We would nap together every morning, which recharged me for the rest of the day. When I was pregnant, I also had a baby journal, writing to my Babyccino every so often.  It melded into a baby-cancer journey, a cathartic way to share my story with my little boy and find strength in the process.”  


Fortified by family and friends
Ninna knows that her journey with cancer would have been more challenging had she not had the wonderful support of her family and friends. “They were all sending cards, prayers, gifts, food and flowers to cheer me up... long distance from Canada to Manila to Australia for some,” she shares.

“We had one angel in Oz, one of our friends, who would drop off a care package for me every night before chemo with soup, fruits and various things to help so we wouldn't have to cook for ourselves.  

“Our immediate families started prayer trees and calendars scheduling when they would come and visit. They would call me on FaceTime to check on me and they were here to support us during our major events.

“My biggest surprise was a Facebook page created by my high school barkada. They called it “go Ninna go” and invited all my loved ones. They would post pictures, videos and messages of love and hope. Angels from every corner of the earth (Manila to the US to Europe, etc.) -- they gave me so much comfort.”

After Elias was born, Ninna and Chino had family members visit and take turns to help them out. “My family and friends in Oz rallied to help out, taking shifts to watch Eli while I drove to chemo,” she recounts.

“I was also lucky because one of my good friends, Mia Diego, is a breast cancer surgeon in the U.S.  She was such a source of comfort for me for my surgeries. She helped me understand what I was about to do, and also reaffirmed the positive news of my response to treatment. Sometimes, after fighting a malignancy for a while, it is hard to accept good news, as you feel you can't let down your guard, so Mia really helped.”


Trust, have faith, let go
Although Ninna has a few months to wait before she can say that her cancer is in remission, she wishes to advise and encourage those who may just be starting their battle with cancer, or are already in the middle of it:

“Trust in your doctors and medical team. I called my oncologist ‘Dr. Healing’ (her real name was Dr. Healey). Even on my hardest days, after seeing her, I always felt as if a load was lifted off my shoulders.  

“My doctors always told me that cancer is all about how you look at it. ‘Be positive and believe that you will beat it,’ they’d say. They were right.  

“We all prayed. We all had faith.  My Ninnja warrior Elias and my pillar of strength Chino kept me strong enough to endure whatever we were hit with... they kept me safe.  

“Everyone's faith and support, near and far, has made miracles happen. We prayed to Saint John Paul II, who was canonized after my miraculous response to chemo. I believe he had a big hand in interceding with us for God to heal me.  

“I think that we are lucky to have faith. Believe that God does not give you anything He believes you cannot endure. We did it, with Him carrying us, and a flock of angels to watch over us.”  

Of course, the road to healing is not, and will not, be easy. Ninna shares:

“You will experience lots of different symptoms, some may be easier to deal with than others. The hardest part for me was learning to let go.  

“Fatigue can be debilitating when you are carrying a heavy load... learning to balance life, realizing that there is a time to rest, time to work, time to breathe, was one of the biggest lessons for me.  

“Months after treatment, when you are stripped of doctors’ visits, blood tests and other things that your life had revolved around for a year, you might find it even harder to rebuild your life.  

“But give yourself a break; you will learn to live a ‘new normal’ and things will really get better on the other side.”  

At present, Ninna can joyfully declare that her symptoms are gone. “I've got my hair back, and most of my arm movements too. I can keep up with my active little toddler. Most days, I don't notice the mastectomy scar and I forget that I had cancer.  It seems like a lifetime ago,” she shares.

“For those going through struggles with cancer now, believe that all shall be well,” Ninna continues. “Try to think positive; otherwise, it will be tough to survive the challenge. I have never given ‘what if’ thoughts a chance and have always willed to live, for Chino and Elias. God always listens and moves mountains for us.”


Are you battling cancer right now, or know anyone who is? Or is there someone you know who can find inspiration from the stories of these brave women? Please feel free to share this with them!