That morning, I received the journal of a woman who died 10
years after her diagnosis of breast cancer at age 50. In the afternoon, I received
a call from a 41 year old woman whose breast tumor had already burst and was
seeking assistance. In one day, I faced two cases which I have become most
familiar with in my more that 15 years of breast cancer advocacy. Two different cases which mirror the unacceptable breast cancer epidemic situation in our country
today where one of 13 will get the disease within their lifetime.
The 1st woman had submitted herself to all medical
interventions at the Chinese General Hospital and total expenses reached a total of around P2 million pesos. The 2nd woman was so poor that she could not even afford a P3,000 biopsy at the East
Avenue Medical Center. Rosa however, did not submit to chemotherapy and radiation by choice.
The 1st woman wrote in her journal that her
medical breast exam a year before her diagnosis was just fine. The 2nd woman first noticed a breast lump 10 years before medical diagnosis. This brings forth what I have long been
saying that there really is no such thing as early detection because it takes 5
to 10 years before the first symptoms of breast cancer are manifested. Moreover,
80% of lumps are normal in the course of a woman’s reproductive life and not
all of the remaining 20% are necessarily a malignancy. Furthermore, not all malignancies
are of the aggressive type and this is will only be known after the fact.
During Rosa’s time, we had zero knowledge and understanding
of the disease and neither was thermal imaging available then. I am very sure that if the 1st woman had undergone thermal imaging a year before her diagnosis, a severe breast
abnormality would already have been seen as against her being told that all was
fine. She could have had the benefit of avoiding the harrowing experience of
chemotherapy. In her journal, she wrote that, “Chemotherapy was the most painful
treatment I experienced in my whole life”.
The 1st woman mentioned of how kind, gentle and
approachable her doctors were, especially that her surgeon was considered the “king”
among breast cancer surgeons. All I have
to say is that they have to be such because of how unkind and terrible their
treatments would be. The ill effects and irreversible damages done by invasive
and toxic procedures are known only afterwards. But because of the hope of
extending life, patients will “bite the bullet.” Unfortunately the often said “5-year survival
rate” is in the USA and not in the Philippines where I have observed to be much,
much lower. As far as the doctors were
concerned, she had already surpassed the 5-year period.
The 2nd woman went to the provincial hospital in
Sta Cruz, Laguna more than 10 years after she her lump first surfaced. She was then
referred to the East Avenue Medical Center but could not afford treatment, no
matter how negligible the costs. Her breast has now worsened because she did
not do anything at all – but, she is "staying alive" without medical intervention.
Breast cancer is not a disease that our Lord God Almighty created and neither
can its resolution be given to His hands. Neither is the supposed cure a
question of money.
These two women had no prior information, knowledge and understanding of breast cancer. The 1st one died 10 years after diagnosis and medical treatment while the 2nd one is still alive after 10 years of non-diagnosis and non-treatment. Unlike many others, Rosa and I had learned tremendously from attending five World
Conferences of Breast Cancer which is how the Philippine Breast Cancer Network
was founded in 1997.
Had I then the knowledge and experience that I possess now,
Rosa would most possibly be with me today continuing the advocacy for the
eradication of breast cancer. But then, if
not for her battle with breast cancer, I would not be able to do what I do now.
The Philippine Breast Cancer Network continues its most
difficult task in honor of Rosa, the 1st woman, the 2nd woman and countless victims of this most dreaded woman’s disease. The PBCN strongly
believes that breast cancer does not have to happen.
 |
| Happy "would-be" 40th anniversary, dearest Rosa! |
