CEBU, Philippines – Change, it is said, is the only constant thing in this world. And how every change affects life depends on how the individual responds to it. But what if change comes in the form of a life-threatening illness - like breast cancer?
Just the same, what such change amounts to depends on how the person concerned deals with it. To some, such change is something to grieve about. Cancer! How else to deal with it but to grieve.
No, not Mary Anne Alcordo-Solomon. This strong-willed cancer survivor is holding very well. Breast cancer has totally changed her perspective and disposition in life - for the better.
She was diagnosed in 2004. It felt like the longest day of her life. Carcinoma, breast cancer Stage 2A, she was told. Later she would tell people that she took the "A" in "Stage 2A" to mean a good grade, perhaps for "good conduct," like in school. It was her characteristic way of giving a spin to her illness - perhaps to prevent it from devastating her and, instead, taking it as something with the possibility of being positive.
But truth is, it wasn't easy. "Human as I am," Mary Anne confides, "I experienced a roller-coaster of emotions - with fear, anxiety, anger; and it stayed that way for days."
She entrusted her case to her doctors because, according to her, doctors know best. True enough, all went well - from diagnosis until recovery stage. Her loved ones were a big reason for her to keep on - the "cheerleaders of her life." These cheerleaders never left her side, cheering her up and motivating her to be strong during her grim journey.
It was during that low period of her life when she realized to look beyond imperfections, and instead search for what is good even in the bad things. She learned to enjoy the simple things.
When she had her chemotherapy, her room was next to those of kids with cancer. Seeing the kids playing around with dextrose attached to their arms and laughing heartily, it occurred to her that it was the way to take the ailment. "I realized that if these kids can do it," she pondered, "why can't I?"
Many people think that a person diagnosed with cancer would eventually die, that their disease was their end. Not really. And definitely not with Mary Anne - who claims that life started for her when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She has come to find meaning in the many things she used to take for granted.
Mary Anne advises diagnosed patients to do something during their crisis instead of losing their spirit. She emphasizes the need to seek professional help and get the best treatment. And for those that are able to win over cancer, like her, to pay forward by assisting cancer patients. She encourages women as well to try to live a healthy and balanced life as yet the best antidote to the risk of cancer.
"Having been diagnosed of cancer and the person is still breathing, standing and alive makes the person a cancer survivor," Mary Anne says. And, for sure, one needs to be strong, just like her. She doesn't let breast cancer get in the way of her life. Instead, she makes it the reason for making the most of her days.
Her faith blossoms, and from it, wisdom grows. She is living proof that cancer is not the end of everything - that the experience can even be used to gain something beautiful.