Imee, Phillippines

Cancer turned our world upside down. During the pandemic, my mother was diagnosed with stage 4 nasopharyngeal cancer. Just four months after her diagnosis, we lost her on May 6, 2021. The restrictions of the pandemic delayed her treatment, and by the time she was able to travel from province to Manila, her condition had already worsened. Eventually, she became too weak for chemotherapy, and we were told she was palliative. It was heartbreaking, we did everything we could, but cancer took her away.

On World Cancer Day, I stand to remind everyone: do not neglect your health. Get checked early, know your rights as a patient, and make use of PhilHealth benefits, now with Yakap Program. Ask questions, seek answers, and take action. Cancer is a battle that affects not just the patient but the whole family. Let’s fight it together by choosing awareness, prevention, and care- Imee Lacson, Yellow Warriors

This story was published with the consent of Philippine Alliance of Patients' Organisations.