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IAMRAFI: Never Give Up
The Story of Karen Molijon, RAFI-EJACC Cancer Patient
By Marco Paulo Trajano Deligero | October 23, 2018
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(Warning: This story contains graphic descriptions of what Karen went through, the objective of which is to emphasize on the need to have yourself checked immediately at the slightest sign of this menace called cancer.)
As we continue to celebrate the Breast Cancer Awareness Month, here is another inspiring story of hope and continuous fight with the life threatening disease.
Karen is currently battling with Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), the most common type of breast cancer, and is on her second round of chemotherapy treatment.
Now, she encourages women to undergo annual screening for early detection. This is her advocacy, and this is her inspiring story.
Life Before Cancer
Karen Molijon was born in Mindanao and has three siblings. She experienced difficulties early on in life. Her father, who worked in a pineapple farm in Bukidnon, lost his job at the plantation and so their family decided to move to Lapu-Lapu City to start life anew. In order to support the family, her father became a tricycle driver.
After finishing high school in 1993, she worked as a factory worker at the Mactan Export Processing Zone in Lapu-Lapu City until the start of her health challenges in 2010, which led to her early retirement.
Discovery of Benign Cysts on Her Breasts
Karen got married in 2008. When she gave birth, she was not able to breastfeed her firstborn because there was a problem with her breast milk duct. She had herself checked, and she was told that she had a benign cyst in her right breast.
She was given a certain medication for a week, but the problem was not resolved and because of that, the doctor advised her to have her right breast removed.
“I was afraid because I thought, what if removing my right breast won’t solve the problem? I was worried,” Karen said.
It did not stop there; further examinations showed that she also had cysts on her left breast, so she had to undergo a minor operation where the cysts were removed from both breasts.
She started having discharges coming out from her nipples, but she thought that this was just due to the operation. Two years after the surgery, she still had blood-like discharges, which ranged from tan to brown in color, and most of the time profuse.
She was then referred to other doctors, and with more tests, she was informed that the cause of the discharges was the very first problem she had, the milk duct itself. Apparently, the cysts removal surgery that she underwent, that she hoped would fix the milk duct problem, did not resolve it after all.
With this new finding, she was advised to undergo Core Needle Biopsy of the Breast. However, she didn’t trust doctors and medical procedures anymore.
“After the failure of the first operation, I didn’t trust medical procedures anymore. Imagine, I was subjected to different kinds of pain and yet my problem was not resolved. I wallowed in self-pity, plus the additional financial costs was too much to bear,”
After that consultation, she did not return to the doctor anymore and just took traditional medicine or herbal medicine.
‘My Breast Exploded’
In 2010, with all the pain she was feeling and all the financial difficulty brought about by the operation, she felt like giving up. But two years after, she got pregnant with her second son.
“I got depressed and worried for my baby; I was battling with this strange disease, and I didn’t want him to get affected inside my womb,”
After giving birth, she noticed that her right breast was growing abnormally; she even said that as the child grew her right breast likewise grew. It was hard and she said that her right nipple had those discharges again, this time more profuse.
When asked if she ever suspected that it was breast cancer, she said that it never crossed her mind.
She further shared that there were times when she felt that her right breast was about to ‘explode;’ producing unusual blood flow, and she had to put a piece of cloth or even a baby diaper to absorb it.
And then one day in 2015, Karen’s right breast ‘exploded,’ producing continuous massive blood discharges coming out not just from the nipple but from the side of her breast. She placed ice to ease the pain and blood flow.
“I then wrapped a huge blanket around my right breast to lessen the blood flow; I thought I was going to die!” she said.
On Being Diagnosed With Cancer
Karen said that she already prepared herself for whatever the findings would be on her right breast. The diagnosis came, she had breast cancer.
And while she was loosing all hope, the people around wanted her to live.
“My friends and family were very supportive; my church mates were very supportive as well — they contributed what they can to help me,”
“That was when I realized that I needed to live! Because people around me wanted me to live!” she said.
Now, Karen is so thankful to the Lord for she already had two operations on her right breast.
“I have not asked the Lord for anything, but He already gave blessings to me. Now, because of God and the people around me, I am more determined to fight this cancer!” Karen added.
For Karen, prayers are powerful because whatever she asked from God, He gave it to her. And she is now asking for complete healing. She is currently going through several sessions of chemotherapy.
On Her Life Lessons Learned
Karen said that being optimistic and hopeful are two of the lessons she has learned in life, setting aside problems and living life to the fullest for the love of her children and family.
“Though I am prepared for whatever might happen, I still pray for healing, I still want to see my children grow up, they are still young,” she said.
Karen shared that her father is also going through health challenges, and she constantly motivates him to continue to fight their battles.
“I am thankful that I was able to summon the strength to fight this battle with cancer,”
She also said that she is helping other cancer patients by referring them to the Eduardo J. Aboitiz Cancer Center of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI-EJACC).
“While I am alive, I can still help them to fight with their own cancer battles,”
On People Who Matters to Her
Karen said that she is happy with the support that her parents, family and friends are giving her.
“I am so thankful to my ‘breastfriends’ in our organization, the Strong Defender Support Group, because we are all helping each other,”
Karen continuously emphasized that early detection is very important, and encourages women to be brave and not be afraid, and be open about it because early detection saves lives.
“Early detection is early cure, that is why I advice them to have annual screening and immediate check-up, it is already enough that I am the one who experienced it already, I want them to be more careful, and always take care of their bodies,”
“Health is really our wealth; we should all be really careful and fight cancer!” #IAMRAFI
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