Dancesporter back on stage after battle with cancer

CEBU, Philippines — When 16-year-old dancesporter, Carrie Samson, first learned she had stage 3 ovarian cancer at just 16-years-old, her immediate concern was not about her future or survival, but a question on whether she can still do what she loves.

“Pwede pa ba ko makasayaw?" Carrie asked her doctor, and herself.

In an interview with the teary-eyed Carrie, she said it has always been her passion to dance ever since she was a young girl and her passion grew when she joined dancesports at the age of 13.

Now 26-years-old, a mother of two and cancer-free, Carrie recently competed in one of the country's biggest stages–the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) Cebu Open 2024, held from September 13 to 15 in Cebu City.

Since her diagnosis with cancer at age 16, she has undergone several treatments and kept going back to the hospital for check-ups, chemotheraphy, and confinement over the years.

Carrie's battle with cancer took her through grueling treatments, including one that stretched over six months at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City where the first Malasakit Center was established in 2018.

According to Carrie, without the help of the Malasakit Center, her battle against cancer would have been much more challenging given the costs of her treatment.

The Malasakit Center is a government initiative spearheaded by Senator Bong Go that aims to provide financial support to Filipinos facing overwhelming medical expenses.

In a press statement released by Senator Go’s office, it shared how Carrie endured the physical and emotional toll of chemotherapy, which left her bedridden for days. But she never let go of the thought of returning to dance someday.

Her journey towards healing was supported in large part by the assistance she received from the Malasakit Center, which for Carrie was life-changing.

“Sa laboratories, dako kaayo ang natabang sa laboratories, mga tambal nila. Sila gyuy usa sa mga nakatabang gyud sa amo,” Carrie recalled, reflecting on the financial burden that her family faced during her treatment.

“Katong panahona, akong gusto ra gyud nga makabalik ko sa pagsayaw. Ganahan lang ko nga i-express nako ang akong feelings ilabi na karon nga naka survive ko, ganahan ko nga samtang buhi pa ko ron, ma share nako ang akong giagihan,” Carrie said.

With the Malasakit Center, Carrie's family was spared from bearing the full cost of her medical bills. The initiative, which brings together multiple government agencies to streamline assistance, ensured that Carrie's hospital stay and treatments were covered.

In fact, her family was one of the many beneficiaries of the "zero billing" system implemented by the program, a relief that allowed them to focus on Carrie's recovery instead of worrying about their finances.

“Ang Malasakit Center kay dako gyud kaayong natabang sa mga pasyente sama nako nga wala na gyud kabalo unsaon pag-abot sa financial needs. Nagpasalamat gyud ko ni Senator Bong Go tungod ani nga programa,” Carrie added when interviewed by some members of the media in Cebu.

Go is the principal author and sponsor of Republic Act No. 11463 or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which institutionalized the Malasakit Centers program. As of now, there are 166 Malasakit Centers operational across the country while there are around 20 in Cebu, poised to assist with patients' medical expenses.

The DOH reports that the Malasakit Center program has already provided aid to nearly 12 million Filipinos.

“Dako gyud kaayo. Grabe gyud ang natabang nila sa amoa. Na-zero ang among billing tungod sa Malasakit Center,” Carrie added.

Today, Carrie is back on the dance floor, competing in the very sport that gave her the strength to endure the darkest moments of her life. Her story is one of resilience, but also a testament to how vital programs like the Malasakit Center can be for Filipinos in need.

“Akong gusto lang gyud kay makabalik ko sa pagsayaw. I just wanted to express myself again through dance," Carrie said, smiling as she recalled her first practice session after recovering from cancer.

As Carrie steps onto the dance floor in Cebu, she embodies the spirit of a survivor—a young woman who fought to regain her health and her passion. – ATO CEBU NEWS