Cancer warrior seeks laws for protection of victims

Cancer victim James Auste calls himself a "synthetic man" because his body no longer produces hormones. But his heart beats with unwavering love and hope for other cancer-stricken youngsters, making him more human than anybody else today.

In fact, despite a nagging back pain, a side-effect of his medications, the 25-year-old James still led the second Bike for Life fund- and consciousness-raising project yesterday initiated by the Cancer Warrior Foundation Inc., which he and his mother, Carmen, founded in May 2000.

"He’s not fit to do this," the mother said, "But James would not be deterred by anything."

This "journey of hope and for life," which will bring James to North Luzon, aims to raise funds that would shoulder the medication and treatment of the foundation’s 30 young cancer-stricken members.

But aside from the much-needed finances, the foundation is now advocating for laws that would protect victims of childhood cancer.

In an interview before the kick off at the Global City in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, James cited the high cost of medicine and treatment of cancer in the country and medical malpractice as pressing concerns that need immediate attention from the government.

His mother, a consultant at the United Nations (UN), added that the foundation’s advocacy now is for Congress to pass a law specific to cancer.

For example, she said, the foundation would like chemotherapy to be covered by medical insurance. At the moment, Cancer Warrior, which derived its name from a column of the late Philippine STAR columnist Art Borjal, is still looking for lawmakers in both the House of Representatives and Senate to sponsor the proposed bill.

James added that the foundation is now lobbying for the Department of Health (DOH) to include chemotherapy among the treatments

that should have lower costs.

Medical malpractice, he said, is also an important issue now. His friend, Brian Faller, 20, was misdiagnosed and a brain operation at a reputable hospital resulted in his right eye to be impaired and completely shut.

It turned out, Brian, like James, was suffering from the panhypopituitarism, a rare disease where the pituitary glands have stopped producing vital hormones in the body, including testosterone. It is a rare condition, James said, that afflicts only one out of 100,000 persons all over the world.

"That is why we are special. Mahal kami ng Diyos!" a smiling Brian said as he and James gave each other a high five. The two said they have to wear a medical patch that would help their body produce hormones.

This year’s Bike for Life will bring James, together with the core team of bikers composed of Rhoda Angeles, JJ San Pascual, Bunny Soriano, and Jan Cabanos, to Northern Luzon provinces from Cabanatuan to Pagudpod, Vigan to Baguio, Pangasinan to Bulacan.

Hundreds of other bikers, who have pledged donation and support, are expected to join the core team at each leg. The foundation has also scheduled forums for cancer-awareness at some of the destinations.

"September is actually International Children’s Cancer Consciousness month. The whole world is celebrating it, except the Philippines," James lamented.

The first Bike for Life held two years ago generated at least P1 million in donations. James hopes that this year, they could raise more.

"The minimum cost for treatment for leukemia is P250,000 and we want to be able to help as many kids as we can," he said.

James and his team will be back in Manila on Sept. 15, in time for "Cancert: Kantahan para sa Kabataang May Kanser," another fund-raising activity of the foundation.

And Carmen expects her son to be as energized and driven to get the foundation going for the sake of its young beneficiaries.

"Pag hirap siya, he says that he just thinks of the pain of the other children. That alone gives him the strength to continue," she said. – Nikko Dizon