How a Filipina beat cancer with courage, faith and love
HER MESSAGE: I WANT PEOPLE TO REALISE CANCER IS NOT A DEATH SENTENCE
We are often told to cut out smoking, avoid drinks, work out, have healthy food choices if we intend to reduce the risk of breast cancer.
But what do you do when you are a non-smoker, teetotaller, health-conscious young person with no history of any chronic disease or medication and yet diagnosed with the dreaded disease? Ask this Filipina expatriate from Abu Dhabi and her answer is: Have the courage to fight back.
On New Year’s Eve in 2017, when the entire world was in a celebratory mode, Eliza Aurelia Tubil, 38, a wife and mother of three school-going children, received a spine-chilling diagnosis for what she thought was a lymph node swelling in her right armpit. It was Stage 4 breast cancer that had spread right to her bones, liver and later even the brain. She was shell-shocked, but decided to fight back of her life.
In January 2018, at NMC Specialty Hospital, under the care of Dr Mohannad Diab, consultant medical oncologist, Tubil commenced her battle. She received several cycles of therapy for four years. On June 21, 2021, Tubil underwent a five-hour surgery for a right breast mastectomy. Simultaneously, an Latissimus Dorsi (LD) flap reconstruction surgery was conducted to cover the gap and create a pocket for breast implant.
I was so glad to learn the story of Eliza and her formidable fight to defeat cancer with the support of our doctors and other caregivers.”
Michael Brenden Davis | CEO, NMC Healthcare
A spirited journey
Thereafter, the medical team at the hospital put her on a special targeted antibodies treatment and Tubil responded very well. It appears that four years
after being diagnosed with cancer, Tubil has finally defeated the demon.
Michael Brenden Davis, CEO, NMC Healthcare, was very happy with the outcome and Tubil’s spirited journey in these four years. He commented: “I was so glad to learn the story of Eliza and her formidable fight to defeat cancer with the support of our doctors and other caregivers.”
In her own words
“On the afternoon of December 31, 2017, my life turned upside down, when the doctor I had consulted a week before told me that I had been diagnosed with breast cancer with
a metastasis to my bone and liver,” said Tubil.
“I thought it was the end of everything. However, my husband told me that we would go ahead and celebrate New Year’s Eve, as he was optimistic that everything would work out fine.
Family support
“It was my husband who encouraged me to be strong. Throughout these four years, Joseph was always there to support me. It was he who made me realise that fighting back was the only way to beat the disease.
“I began researching and reading articles about cancer treatments. Soon, I was convinced
that cancer was a treatable disease.
Unwavering faith
“I want people to realise that when they hear the word ‘cancer’, it should not be considered as a death sentence. Rather, it should be seen as any other disease that can be treated. Fighting cancer requires a strong will, resistance, love, care, optimism, hope and most importantly — an unwavering faith in God.
“I believe that my ability and willingness to think outside the box and conducting my own research on the subject helped me beat cancer.
“To other cancer patients and cancer survivors out there, I would like to say that do not be ashamed of what you have. Just think that you are normal and always remember that you are a survivor and a hero to everybody.
“We must show to other people that we have overcome the hardest challenge in our life. To the family and friends of those suffering from cancer right now, I request you to provide your family member all the moral support a patient needs.
“I would like to thank the medical team at NMC Specialty Hospital, Abu Dhabi, for my recovery, namely Dr Mohannad Diab, Dr Balaji Balasubramanian and Dr Brij Naithani Panchal.”