Thank God I had cancer

MANILA, Philippines — According to Cleveland Clinic (2024), cancer is the second most common cause of death in the world. With that being said, most, if not all, people have heard about it; even if it’s just a gist. Personally, my conception of it, based on what was told to me by others and what I observed growing up, was that patients who had it were skinny, going through harsh treatment, and most prominent among all — hairless.

I used to pity them so much, because who wouldn’t? They’re going through something so difficult, and at most times don’t even have the capacities to survive.

But looking at it now, that mindset sounds so stupid. Thinking that cancer is “just” that is so stupid.

Never in my life have I ever imagined being diagnosed with leukemia. I could count the number of times I’ve had a fever from the moment I was born using my fingers. I wouldn’t even drink my vitamins at times because I believed that it wouldn’t make a difference anyway. That’s how healthy I thought I was. But turns out, I was wrong.

Zoey, Helga, Rosell, Ka Tunying lead Outbox Media Powerhouse Corp.’s staging of ‘Thrive: A Symphony of Thriving Stories’ at the Metrotent in Pasig City. The benefit concert for the young patients at the Cancer and Hematology Center of the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC) also marked the Cancer Awareness Month in September.

Dec. 2, 2019 was the day my life turned upside down. What I thought was the simplest problem was actually the hardest thing I would ever have to experience.

People say, “Cancer is painful.” To most, it’s common knowledge. But as someone who’s had it, hearing that just makes me laugh.

“Painful” is nothing. Pain doesn’t even mean anything to me anymore. You’d have to create a whole new word to describe what I went through. No one, including medical professionals, will be able to capture the feeling of having cancer but the patients themselves. It’s the one thing in the world that I genuinely believe is unexplainable.

That’s why, until this day, everything is still so surreal to me. I’m a 16-year-old who had and survived cancer, not just once, but twice. Above that, my case was extremely rare, given the morphing of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia to Acute Myeloid Leukemia — the second pediatric case in the history of St. Luke’s Medical Center — so my survival is merely God’s miracle.”

The family turns over to PCMC the P3.5M raised with partners UAAGI: Baic, Chery, Foton, Lynk & Co, San Miguel Corp., Villar City, Vista Estates, Ever Bilena, RC Ramos Construction, Antonio Chua Jr., Alice Eduardo, Cherylume, Stronghold Insurance, Jullien And Jorel, One Top Medical System Resources, Uratex, RRJ, Mana Town Center, Nobel’s Travel And Tours, Sen. Win Gatchalian, Poweredge, Proyoung Medical and Dental Clinic, R33 Cars, Urban Luggage, Ideal Vision Center, Dentacare Philippines, Filinvest, JC Organic Barley, JG Summit Holdings, Justright Healthcare, Cherub Baby Wipes, P.A. Properties and Converge ICT. In photo are the Tabernas with Dr. Cindy Faye Alim-Marquez, Dr. Marieleise Afable, Dr. Sonia Gonzalez, Dr. Norma Zamora, Dr. Joseph Vincent Eric Alba, and Dr. Lorraine Marie Item.

Despite all the challenges I’ve gone through at such a young age, I never got angry nor placed blame on anyone. I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, and I know that this storm came into my life to teach me valuable lessons that I will forever keep within myself and will pass on to others.

Before, my mom would often tell me that I should cherish everyone and everything because we never know how much we love them until we’re about to lose them. Honestly, I didn’t get what that meant, considering that I still looked at things in a shallow manner back then. But when I got sick, this piece of advice stuck with me. Not only did this apply to all my family and friends who witnessed my fatal state, but also to myself. I didn’t know how much I loved my life until I was about to lose it.

Having cancer made me see how precious everything is. Whatever we have is a privilege. Even living and breathing to start another day is a privilege. I have come to the realization that life is something that we shouldn’t take for granted, and that our existence itself is something we should eternally be grateful for.

Lani Misalucha and Ogie Alcasid are among the fundraiser’s featured artists, along with Julie Ann San Jose and Darren Espanto (not in photo).

Whenever someone asks me if this experience in my life has affected my faith, I constantly reply that it just made it firmer. Even if this may be odd to hear for some, I thank God I had cancer. I thank God for making me feel pain. I thank God for letting me experience real life. Because in the end, His plan for me prevailed; I became so much stronger than I was before, and I am able to live a life that I fought to keep.

If I were given a chance to escape from everything that happened, I would decline. With pleasure, I’d do it all over again, even if I am aware of how tough it would be — because I wouldn’t be who I am today if I didn’t have cancer.

Having passed this obstacle, I believe that cancer patients shouldn’t be pitied. Even if they look weak, they are the strongest people to ever exist. We didn’t just survive cancer, we fought a battle and won over it — and that’s the most courageous thing anyone can do.

Although I wasn’t sad it happened, I’m glad that it’s over — because the moment I was pronounced cancer-free, I became living proof that with hope and faith, the impossible becomes possible.