Sheilla Gagui channeled her triathlete mindset when she was diagnosed with breast cancer at the height of the pandemic. She had to move fast.
The diagnosis came when the 39-year-old mother of two was at her athletic peak. She had finished a full Ironman triathlon, which consists of a 3.9-km swim, a 180-km biking ride, and a 42-km full marathon run.
She felt a lump on her breast while in the shower. Two months and multiple tests later, her worst fear was confirmed.
"With this cancer, you have to move quick. Hindi ka pwedeng "wait lang". Hindi pwedeng "wait lang, let it sink first". Kasi time is moving. So, we want the tumor to be out of my chest right away, mabilis nalang magawa na agad yung treatment para siyempre the earlier stage, the better. It's curable
She went through a mastectomy or the complete removal of her breasts, and eight cycles of chemotherapy. Gagui said she did it for herself and the people who depend on her.
"I got bald. My hair fell off. [My husband] was the one who shaved it and sabi niya, siya rin daw magpapakalbo so, kinalbo rin niya sarili niya. Even my son, sabi niya 'mom, I want also to shave my hair... Kusa lang nila na ganyan, sobrang laking bagay for me," she said.
The Philippines has the highest prevalence of breast cancer in Asia, and ninth in the world. While it is curable especially when diagnosed early, inadequate knowledge of breast health (aside from inaccessibile health care services) continue to hamper people's access to treatment, experts have said.
After finishing her treatments last November, she is now in remission. Five years from now, if all checks out well and she heals completely, she'll be called cancer-free.
Gagui said she hopes her struggles will show people that breast cancer can happen to anyone, however fit they think they are.
"I want to inspire people and I also want them also to be aware, especially females, ladies, yung mga girls. I want them to be aware of how to have their breasts checked. Do their annual check ups," she said.
In between her treatments, Gagui still lives healthy with home workouts. She also wants to remind everyone that cancer patients are very much able, "Na hindi porket nagka cancer ka, you can't do anything anymore."
Know more about her in this #SummitOriginals video:
