Minnie Edralin Davidsohn
Minnie was diagnosed to have Stage II breast cancer when she was 46 years old. This was at a time in her life when she was busy being a caregiver to her husband with Parkinson’s Disease, a mother to her only daughter who was about to go to college in a couple of years, a manager to her medical office of 12 doctors, and a doctor to her many patients with Internal Medicine problems. Both by choice and forced by circumstance, she decided to life her life as usual while undergoing hormonal and radiation treatment. It was not an easy task. She started to find comfort and stress relief by eating. She gained 40 pounds, had early liver failure due to fatty liver, developed cataracts, and vaginal bleeding. She was advised to make better choices, and she did. She lost 35 pounds, consulted dieticians who placed her on a 1500 daily caloric diet, exercised 3x a week, weighed herself 2x a day and prayed even more often. Now 9 years in remission, Minnie attributes her healing and ability to maintain a healthy lifestyle to her faith, her hope, and her belief that God can heal and allow people like her to survive their cancer and to be a blessing to others, as she is now.
Minnie Edralin Davidsohn
Gerry Bulatao
Gerry Bulatao is the patient representative in the Board of Trustees of CARE Philippines (see ABOUT US page). He was diagnosed to have Stage 3 colon cancer in 2013, for which he underwent curative surgery. He then received only two cycles of chemotherapy, then stopped due to intolerable toxicities. He thereafter went back to his daily life with the addition of 2 mugs of turmeric per day. His most recent colonoscopy in September 2017 has assured him he continues to be cancer free over four years after his cancer diagnosis.
Gerry Bulatao
Ma. Ramona Gertrudes Tiangco Santiago
Ma. Ramona Gertrudes Tiangco Santiago (Winnie) has risen through the ranks of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013, she needed all her experience and mastery in banking and trading currencies, and her keen attention to details, in deciding how to handle her diagnosis. Her risk/benefit analysis led her to a treatment path of minimal treatment side effects but greatest chance of cure. She moved away from her beloved cats (which could have been a source of infection), and had daily blood counts (instead of taking prophylactic white cell enhancers and antibiotics), as she went through surgery then chemotherapy followed by radiation. When a tiny skin recurrence was noted two years after her diagnosis, she had a second surgery followed by more radiation. She learned all she could about her illness and diagnosis and did not stop asking questions until she was satisfied with the answers. Truly an empowered patient, Winnie says that although she is now Assistant Governor and Head of the Treasury Department of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, there are things more important to her now. “I am thankful for having come this far in my career. I am pretty proud of what I do and I always want to do my best at my job. The cancer experience, however, pointed out to me that it is really God and your family and good friends who will help you and support you when you need it the most. So they must come first before anything else.”
Ma. Ramona Gertrudes Tiangco Santiago
Holistic Oncology Cancer Lay Forum
Holistic Oncology Cancer Lay Forum
Vanessa Lopa
Vanessa Lopa was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) in August 2014, and has been in remission since September of the same year. During her chemotherapy cycles, she penned The Leukemia Diaries, a series of blog entries sharing her experiences and journey to recovery. She is now a radio DJ with Wave 89.1 and an events host, most notably for the annual Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta.
Vanessa Lopa
Cel de Claro
For six years now, Cel de Claro has hung on to thea rollercoaster ride called Stage 4 Renal Cell Carcinoma. Diagnosed in 2011, she knew early on that she had limited options: “I saw myself realizing at that point in time that I only had two choices- to fight or give up. There was never an in between decision that a person with cancer could make. So, I chose to fight. I am a survivor. I am stronger than ever because I became a warrior. I was pushed to the wall and made the right decision to fight. I failed and suffered many times but I am still here; hopeful and thankful.” Today Cel continues to own and manage her Teaching Center, tutoring her students not just on their lessons in school, but also on the hard lessons she has learned in life: Have faith in God, be positive, be well nourished, follow your doctor, do not rely on herbal medication, tell yourself it is ok to feel whatever you are feeling, be more connected with your family and friends, be happy and laugh as hard as you can. “Life goes on because Cancer does not mean death it means Chance. A chance to still choose and be more than who you are.”
Cel de Claro
JC Gatchalian PHD
JC Gatchalian PHD
Jingjing Villanueva-Romero
Jingjing Villanueva-Romero, a PR consultant in her past life, was diagnosed to have Stage 3 breast cancer on November 2016. Throughout her six months of physical and emotional pain brought about by both the diagnosis of cancer and its treatment, Jingjing relied on prayers and acupuncture to make her life more bearable. She also steadfastly held on to her mantra “carpe diem”, and in that spirit, picked up a paint brush and started painting her troubles away. Today has emerged an Accidental Artist. Inspired by her peripatetic self, she created over 80 paintings from memories and reflections on her numerous international travels and had her first solo exhibit “Postcards from Mamita”, on July 2017. All paintings were sold on the first day.
Jingjing Villanueva-Romero
Romeo S. Agsaway
Mateo 7:7-9 “Humingi kayo at kato’y bibigyan. Humanap kayo at kayo’y makakatagpo.” Ako po si Romeo S. Agsaway, 48, nakatira sa Calatagan, Batangas, “CANCER SURVIVOR.” Nagsimula po ito noong taong 2013, nagkaroon ako ng isang maliit na bukol sa kanang binti. Kumonsulta po ako sa doktor na nakatalaga sa pribadong ospital. Nang makita po nya iyon, pinayuhan nya akong tanggalin kaagad bilang lunas at ganung nga po ang nangyari. Pagkaraan po ng tatlong taon (2016), muli pong bumalik ang bukol sa parehong lugar at naging dalawa pa. Muli po akong inoperahan sa dati kong doktor at ospital. Nang matapos po ang ikalawang operasyon ko, nagkaroon po ng biopsy at dito nila nalaman na mayroon akong tumor, cancer. Sa kadahilanang wala akong sapat na pera upang pumasok sa major operation, natagalan ang proseso. Pero hindi po ako nawalan ng pag-asa. Dumadalangin po ako lagi sa Panginoon Hindi po nagtagal, isang doktor ko ang nagendorso sa akin upang pumasok sa medical clinical trial na ginanap sa Medical City, Pasig. Sa awa ng Diyos pumasa po ako sa screening, nagsimula po ako sa unang proceso ng medical. Ang biopsy sinundan ng 25 session na radiotherapy pagkatapos noon ginanap ang operasyon ko noong March 25, 2017 at naging matagumpay ang lahat. Maraming salamat po sa bumubuo ng Pharmaengine, Dr. Beatrice Tiangco bilang tagasiyasat, Dr. Cesar Dimayuga na siyang nanguna sa aking major operation at lalo at higit sa lahat sa poon Maykapal sa pagbibigay ng panibagong buhay at paggabay.
