Breast cancer patient stays positive despite tough times

Salvacion Vidal —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Salvacion “Salve” Vidal has been through a lot recently.

The 48-year-old resident of Calamba City, Laguna, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer in June. But when interviewed by the Inquirer, Salve was upbeat and in good spirits, even laughing at times while recalling her experience since she felt a lump in her right breast in March.

“I’ve always been a positive person although I’m still trying to find the positive side of having breast cancer,” she said. Diagnosing her ailment proved complicated as two sets of mammograms and breast ultrasound tests in April and May showed nothing although a biopsy pointed to her having breast cancer stage 2A.

“At that time, I was still in denial because I was strong, my appetite was good and I did not have any other symptom,” Salve said. A doctor finally recommended that she undergo an MRI test and in June, she and her husband, Roberto, went to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) for a third opinion. “The doctor said I had breast cancer and it was now stage 3A. The recommended treatment was 6 sessions of chemotherapy, followed by surgery and if needed, 12 more chemo and 33 radiation sessions,” Salve said.

READ: Breast cancer: ‘No longer a death sentence’

After her initial shock wore off, depression set in. “I was overwhelmed by so many emotions and I cried every night. But I thought, the Lord will not put me through this if I cannot bear it. My husband also told me to bring back the old me,” she added.

Determined to survive

On July 1, Salve underwent her first chemo session, which left her very weak for days “But I fought through it. I willed myself to get up and walk even if I was in pain. After a few days, I regained my appetite and it was if nothing had happened. When people see me, they tell me, ‘You don’t look like you have cancer.’ Admittedly, my mood was very different before I had chemo. But I’m very determined to survive this with the support of my family and friends,” she said.

Although chemotherapy and some of her medicines are free at PGH, Salve asked for help buying Pertuzumab, which costs P74,613 per vial (discounted price). Her husband, a government employee, took out a loan to buy the first vial and she needs five more for now. The drug must be administered every 21 days as she undergoes chemotherapy to shrink the tumor.

“My husband and I don’t earn enough to raise P74,613 every 21 days. I’m ready to battle cancer but we can’t fight the hole the disease will leave in our pockets,” said Salve, who works as an accounting staffer in a private firm.

Donations can be sent to her Banco De Oro (BDO Unibank Inc.) account with account number 000890426058 (Swift Code : BNORPHMM) under the account name Salvacion Vidal. She can be contacted at 0998-2324993. —STEPHANIE R. ASUNCION