IAMRAFI: The Fighter in Me
The Story of Anne Georgia Crystal Solante,
A Breast Cancer Survivor (Part 1 of 2)
By Marco Paulo Trajano Deligero | April 3, 2018
[/et_pb_fullwidth_header][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section transparent_background=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” custom_padding=”0px|0px|54px|0px” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”off” custom_width_px=”1080px” custom_width_percent=”80%” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off” fullwidth=”off” specialty=”off” admin_label=”Section” disabled=”off”][et_pb_row make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”off” custom_width_px=”1080px” custom_width_percent=”80%” use_custom_gutter=”off” gutter_width=”3″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|16px|0px” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” make_equal=”off” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”on” parallax_2=”off” parallax_method_2=”on” parallax_3=”off” parallax_method_3=”on” parallax_4=”off” parallax_method_4=”on” admin_label=”Row” disabled=”off”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ disabled=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_text background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” admin_label=”Text” use_border_color=”off” border_style=”solid” disabled=”off” inline_fonts=”Lato”][/et_pb_text][et_pb_text background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”justified” admin_label=”Text” use_border_color=”off” border_style=”solid” disabled=”off” inline_fonts=”Abel”]Solante is the team captain of the Cebu Pink Paddlers Dragon boat team, the very first breast cancer survivors dragon boat team in the Philippines. But with all the successes of the team, she is a sister, a friend, a mother, a woman, and a breast cancer survivor.
This is the untold story of a woman whose values have made her a fighter against the life-threatening disease.
Her Life Battles
Life has been challenging for Captain Solante. When she was younger, she took care of her parents and did her responsibilities.
“Before I was diagnosed with cancer, I took care of my mother who also had cancer. Then my father went into coma, while at the same time suffering from asthma, which added to his burden,” Solante recalled.
Her parents health challenges made her take up Nursing in order to take care of them better. Unfortunately, her father passed away.
“I finished my degree in Nursing, and continued enhancing my knowledge for I loved what I was doing. After passing the board exams, I immediately took up Master of Arts in Nursing. I remember telling myself that I was doing it for my mother,” she said.
She volunteered at a local hospital and completed her Master’s degree in 2010. Little did she know that life had more challenges for her.
Being Diagnosed with Breast Cancer
“One day, while showering, I felt a lump in my right breast. The lump was hard, immovable, and painless, which I immediately knew were signs of breast cancer,” she recalled.
When she went to an oncologist, she was advised to undergo breast ultrasound. The results showed that there was a suspicion for a mass. The doctor advised for a biopsy after.
“I was diagnosed with malignant Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC), also known as breast cancer on February 16, 2011, just months after I finished my master’s — my body was numb. All of a sudden, I felt didn’t have anything to say. I was speechless,” she said.
“I didn’t know what to feel that time. I was crying. I thought of my then four-year-old son. He is my life. What will happen to him if something happens to me?,” she added.
Her family is her foundation and motivation in battling against the disease. Telling them about it was difficult, but making her 14-year old son understand was a more challenging task.
He cried when he heard the news.
“I told him, ‘I need you to be strong for me and for your younger brother, Jiggy. Focus on your studies for Papa and I will take care of this,’” she recalled.
Fighting Cancer the Scientific Way
“I decided to fight cancer the scientific way since I know of so many research and clinical trials on the disease. I went to my doctor and she gave me a plan of care. I was told to prepare Php2.5 million pesos. However, I decided to seek for a second opinion,” she stressed.
With her second doctor, Solante was advised to look for a surgeon. She was given two options to undergo – either lumpectomy (removal of the lump) or mastectomy (removal of the breast).
She chose mastectomy to relieve herself of all fears and worries of future reoccurrences.
On February 2011, the same month she was diagnosed, she underwent the removal of her right breast.
“I didn’t want to give cancer a second chance. I didn’t want to have sleepless nights thinking that there is this threat to my life and that I couldn’t be with my family any longer. So I decided to push through with the operation,” she added.
A .65 mm lump was removed from her right breast. She went through a year of treatment which included 18 cycles and was given medication for the next two years.
While going thru the whole process, Solante quit from her nursing profession and even resigned from her job as office manager of her brother’s business due to her health condition and also out of her husband’s fear that the cancer would reoccur.
Volunteering to Empower Women
To inspire people to take action against breast cancer, she volunteers at iCanServe Foundation to encourage women to do a breast self-examination, which is the first step in detecting early signs of breast cancer.
“With all of these life-threatening challenges on my plate, I decided to use my experience to advocate breast cancer awareness by joining this group in 2011. This was the same year I discovered I had breast cancer and had my breast operation,” Solante said.
Every October, she actively joins the group’s activities like fundraising and free breast screenings.
Partnership with EJACC
“As partners with EJACC, all the funds raised in our activities are turned-over to them. In iCanServe Foundation, we believe in EJACC’s advocacy. We share our stories of hope and do screenings together,” she added.
She proudly shared that with the partnership, they have reached more people, advocating for early cancer detection and prevention. In November 2016, the local government of Dumanjug even requested them to conduct a breast cancer forum. They also did free breast cancer screening.
Encouraging Women to Take Tests
“Do not be afraid to take screening tests or at least do breast self-examination. Laban lang! (Just continue fighting!),” Solante said.
She also clarified a few misconceptions about breast cancer, namely; underwire bras can cause cancer, or when someone accidentally elbows you (hitting your breast area) it can cause cancer.
“Never ever go to a faith healer or quack doctor or albularyo,” she added.
On Life Learnings
“I was an introvert before. But now, I am able to express myself and share my story so that I can be an inspiration to others. It is life changing!” she said.
She also thanked all the support groups for their big help along her journey. She shared that when a patient is with a common group, they can understand you. She has found comfort in them. They share good laughs and just have fun together.
“I talk to the Lord all the time for it releases my fears. I have lots of what ifs. In my fight against cancer, I have to take hold of myself, and be strong enough to defeat it,” she stressed.
People Who Matter
“To God who never left me throughout my breast cancer journey, You are my everything.”
“Despite all the things I’ve experienced, my family never left me. To my husband, ‘my love’ Greman ‘Jojo’ Solante, I love you so much.”
“To my two sons, Gerard Geronimo Crystal Beniga, now 21 (her son from her first husband who passed away), and Gregory Roman Crystal Solante, now 11. I love you both.”
“To Doctor Ellie May B. Villegas, my medical oncologist, thank you for everything and on encouraging me to join iCanServe Foundation (ICSF).”
“To Cebu Assistant Coordinator of ICSF, presently Assistant Regional Director of DTI Region 7, Nelia Flores-Navarro. Thank you.”
“Also to iCanServe Foundation, Cebu Coordinator, Ms. Mary Anne Alcordo-Solomon, thank you very much!”
“To the Solante family, thank you very much.”
“To all the women out there, I encourage you to undergo screenings. Don’t be afraid, and fight for your life for you are a woman, a sister, a friend, and a mother to someone. Your life matters. This is my story, and I am happy, #IAMRAFI.”
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“Despite all the things I experience, my family never left me. To my husband, ‘my love’ Greman ‘Jojo’ Solante, I love you so much.”
[/et_pb_slide][et_pb_slide button_link=”#” background_image=”https://www.rafi.org.ph/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/30007251_10216594293554341_39075556_n.jpg” background_position=”default” background_size=”default” background_color=”#ffffff” alignment=”center” background_layout=”dark” allow_player_pause=”off” text_border_radius=”3″ disabled=”off”][/et_pb_slide][et_pb_slide button_link=”#” background_image=”https://www.rafi.org.ph/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/29994566_10216594339315485_1282123833_o.jpg” background_position=”default” background_size=”default” background_color=”#ffffff” alignment=”center” background_layout=”dark” allow_player_pause=”off” text_border_radius=”3″ disabled=”off”][/et_pb_slide][et_pb_slide button_link=”#” background_image=”https://www.rafi.org.ph/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/29939472_10216594293634343_16470122_n.jpg” background_position=”default” background_size=”default” background_color=”#ffffff” alignment=”center” background_layout=”dark” allow_player_pause=”off” text_border_radius=”3″ disabled=”off”][/et_pb_slide][et_pb_slide button_link=”#” background_image=”https://www.rafi.org.ph/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/30007815_10216594339275484_1832307578_n.jpg” background_position=”default” background_size=”default” background_color=”#ffffff” image=”https://www.rafi.org.ph/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/30007815_10216594339275484_1832307578_n.jpg” use_bg_overlay=”on” bg_overlay_color=”rgba(40,40,40,0.57)” alignment=”center” background_layout=”dark” allow_player_pause=”off” text_border_radius=”3″ header_letter_spacing=”29px” body_font=”Arimo|on|||” body_font_size=”12px” body_letter_spacing=”0px” body_line_height=”23.2px” body_line_height_last_edited=”off|desktop” disabled=”off”]“To all women, I encourage you to undergo screenings. Don’t be afraid, and fight for your life for you are a woman, a sister, a friend, and a mother to someone. Your life matters. This is my story, and I am happy. #IAMRAFI”
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