Monday, September 01, 2008 Cancervivors By Luis A. Quibranza III
ME’ANNE Solomon and Alice Gonzalez are breast cancer survivors. But by all means, don’t feel sorry for them. They’re having the time of their lives.
In fact, I was able to catch up with them for an interview just recently in a party that Me’ Anne, with the help of other friends, threw for a number of kids that have been also diagnosed with leukemia.
Smiles, music and a lot of laughter. It was a party all right. Was there any room for negativity in a room packed with cancer survivors?
“Of course, there are all sorts of human emotions, like depression and loneliness, that we go through at times. But I want to step out of it and just celebrate life!” says Me’Anne with conviction.
“I try to be positive. Because it’s not only me who is affected, but more so my loved ones. It’s our loved ones that get affected the most,” she adds.
For Alice, she believes that there is life after cancer.
“It made me realize that there are more important priorities in life. To share friendship, love and respect not only for our loved ones, but especially to those who have less in life, for we are all children of God,” says Alice.
Discovering the Big C
Me’Anne describes herself as a “good patient.”
All was well until last Sept. 2, 2004, when she felt a lump. She immediately went to see her doctor and had a mammogram, ultrasound and fine needle biopsy. Then the initial finding came out: she was already in Stage 3A of cancer.
So two days later, she underwent an operation to remove the lump and just hoped positively for the results of the biopsy on her lymph nodes (to check if the cancer had spread out in her body).
On Sept. 8 that year, she received news.
“It’s a miracle! On the birthday of Mama Mary, the results came and it was negative!” explains Me’Anne. Her status downgraded to Stage 2A.
For Alice, her story amplifies the truth of the following line: Never say never. She had to battle with the big C twice.
She was first diagnosed July 2000 with Stage 2B caner. So she underwent a modified radical mastectomy and six cycles of chemotherapy.
By year 2003, the cancer came back again, so she had a modified radical mastectomy and eight cycles of chemotherapy. It was in Stage 3B already.
But Alice is a fighter.
She refused to sink into the depths of depression and rather focused on life’s joyful offerings.
Her positive attitude, her caring physicians and her faith in the Lord made her who she is today.
If you meet both women today, you’d somehow desire something they have. Both lives exude a peace that surpasses measured human intellect.
One message they’d like to share with other women out there would be that early detection could save lives and money. Their message to the world? Celebrate life.
It’s a paradox. Those who truly learn how to celebrate life (and celebrate it correctly) are those who have been reminded that there is indeed no assurance to how long one’s stay will be here in this lifetime.
Cheers to these women of strength, endurance and character.
