Looking beautiful after the Big C

MANILA, Philippines - She’s been through a failed marriage, a heartbreaking romance and has battled breast cancer. But Maritoni Fernandez is undeniably a survivor. She doesn’t make an effort to hide her hurt from the public and she has managed an admirable existence despite the trials she previously faced.

Now 40, Maritoni refuses to dwell on regrets. Instead, she counts her painful experiences as valuable lessons. Her life story is truly an inspiration, especially for women who had to go through the same life-threatening ordeal.

Maritoni was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer in April 2001. She was only 32 years old then. The lump removed from her right breast was malignant. All lymph nodes removed from her right armpit were negative. Still, Maritoni had to undergo radiation therapy in the US, so the cancer cells would not spread or recur.

“I did four cycles of chemotherapy where I lost all my hair,” Maritoni recounts. “After that, I was supposed to have breast augmentation, but the staff of the hospital in the US had a reshuffle, so there was no plastic surgeon to do the procedure.”

After the radiation therapy, Maritoni wanted to push through with her plan to do breast augmentation. However, she was told about the “very high risk” procedure, since all the blood vessels around her right breast area were already killed through radiation.

“It was supposed to be chemotherapy, plastic surgery and radiation therapy,” Maritoni explains. “But when I was advised against doing the breast augmentation following radiation, I decided to wait until the procedure became totally unimportant to me.”

After all her treatments were done, Maritoni learned the very depressing fact from her doctors that she would never be able to have children again. At that time, she has already a six-year-old daughter, but wanted to have another child.

“One of the horrible side effects of chemotherapy is that it prematurely puts you into menopause which, in my case, happened as early as my second treatment,” she shares. “Along with losing all my hair, my monthly period also stopped.”

Maritoni, however, did not lose faith. Miraculously enough, three years after her treatment, her menstrual cycle returned. “Having a child was another high risk because if you are a breast cancer survivor, you cannot really get pregnant,” she allows. “Breast cancer feeds on estrogen, but if your body produces large amounts of estrogen, which women do when they are pregnant, there’s a tendency for the cancer to recur.”

But Maritoni was really brave. “God promised me I would have a son and with His blessing, I was able to have another child,” she beams. “Now, I have a four-year-old son and a 14-year-old daughter.”

After giving birth the second time, Maritoni confesses she was even able to breastfeed her son, but was on a “mentally abnormal” state of mind. “It was weird because I had to breastfeed with only one breast,” she grants. “I was crying inside the nursery because I felt such a useless mom. I would see other mothers with double the amount of milk they were giving their babies. My mom had to remind me I only had one boob, that’s why my milk was not sufficient.”

After surviving breast cancer, Maritoni was able to resume her personal activities. She became very athletic, jogging, running and playing badminton. She also returned to her acting career. She has undeniably earned her mark in showbiz as one of the abominable contravidas on the big screen. She can really be vicious and scheming, making life miserable for the lead character. In person, however, Maritoni is anything but hateful.

When she met cosmetic surgeon Dr. Vicki Belo, Maritoni was convinced to do the breast implant with the Belo Medical Group. “Dr. Belo is the best person to go to because she has many good doctors who work for her and her clinic is very reputable,” Maritoni maintains. “After talking to her, I thought, ‘Why did I have to suffer with only one boob?’ I discussed it with my non-showbiz partner who immediately got excited about it.”

Naturally, having second thoughts did not escape the Filipino-British actress. “My favorite position when I sleep is face down,” Maritoni discloses. “Of course, I can no longer do that after the procedure. But it’s a small price to pay to be able to look good again. I want to wear two-piece swimsuits again without having to use padding for my bra.

“I discussed it with my mom who went through the same procedure when she was younger. But then, I told myself I might as well do it while I’m still fairly young. What good will it do when I’m already 50?”

The fear of the cancer recurring likewise entered Maritoni’s mind, that’s why she consulted with all her doctors who treated her during her ailment. “I still have to have a sonogram and mammogram regularly, for life. But all of my doctors gave me positive encouragement and assured me the procedure is safe. I knew everything negative would eventually turn into something positive.”

After doing the procedure with Dr. Jun Caparas at the Belo clinic, Maritoni felt there was no need to hide what she did from the public. “My breast cancer was not a secret, so I might as well do the procedure in a public way,” she offers. “I want to show that even if you have (breast) cancer, you can still look beautiful.”