I was tagged by Rolando to post something about Breast Cancer Awareness last month. I couldn’t let this opportunity pass and invited a wonderful lady to share her story as a breast cancer survivor.

Ms. Enme Malanog is an aunt of two close friends, so I have heard so much about her. I only knew that she had breast cancer and didn’t know the whole story until I read what she sent me. As I read through, I was deeply touched by her courage, by her faith, by her life. I only placed here portions of what she wrote, but I encourage you to be touched and be inspired like me. Read her complete story HERE.

“I was 46 then, successful in my career in a very prestigious, international (Swiss) company in Makati, surrounded with“big bosses with big hearts”and always with a plate filled with the daily routine assignments in a corporate set up. I have all the benefits you wish to have. HR team who kept on bugging me for our Annual Medical check up and yet passed on to my deaf ears until the time I was posted and moved on to Phnom Penh, Cambodia to join our SGS Cambodia Liaison Office way back 2000.

Time flies! I enjoyed my job in Phnom Penh, the only place on earth with 28 holidays a year! It was September 24th 2003 – we traveled all the way to Vietnam for a long weekend Pchum Ben holiday. I had my confirmed appointment the next day at FV (Franco-Vietnamese) Hospital with Dr. Stephane Lager an OB Gyne, after I felt a lump on my left breast July that same year wherein months before I had two prolonged cough which was just ignored, frequent very disturbing numbness on my right arm which I thought an effect of daily long usage of my desktop.“

That lump was later diagnosed as an Invasive Ductile Carcinoma (early stage II Breast Cancer).

“The news went around globally to relatives and friends. E-mails kept pouring, sharing words of encouragements. Brigades of the most powerful prayers continue from grieving friends and family members who was shocked about my situation. Their words of comfort were never more appropriate than before. A moment to remember that when one of us is threatened, we are all at risk, we are all involved in this journey called life. We must keep an eye out for one another and make an extra effort to encourage one another. Remember each of us is a vital thread in other person’s tapestry, our lives are woven together for a reason. One of the best things to hold onto in this world is through our families and friends.“

“Chemo treatment was the toughest of them all. During the operation I never felt the pain but the chemo effects were beyond description. In between each session my right arm was full of shots and plasters from the required blood tests twice prior to each treatment. Looking pale and week within the week on the course of my treatment while in the midst of my workplace, office colleagues were visible and kind enough to cheer me up.“

“Acceptance time came when my every single hair starts to fall! I got BALD all over… apart from other effects that I have fought (vomiting, nausea, loose of appetite, heat, tingling of your body, tightening and shrinking of my veins, pains all over as a result of the medicine). Big sigh… why me Lord? I still couldn’t understand but I have to fight. At the back of my mind I can hear the whisper. Carry on, fight, win, pray and pray. In the midst of these trials I felt God’s presence and my faith deepened. You are in safe hands and I will take care of you. It was a total spiritual journey.“

“During these journeys, I never ran out with a smile until the BIG SMILE came again when my new hair popped up July 2004. I finally booked to be home with my family to proudly present my new hair and new physical appearance. Tears, tears, tears of gratefulness have been pouring. God is always good and is healing me. I can’t thank Him enough for taking care of me and giving me all the provisions.“

“My spiritual life continues and my journey with God goes on forever! Whoever you are, whenever you are, pray. Pray without ceasing, pray without pretense. Just whisper a prayer. Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, His love endures forever.“

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This entry was posted on Monday, November 26th, 2007 at 8:44 am and is filed under Guest Writers, Health, Meme. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.