Battling the Dreaded Big C

Wazzup Pilipinas!

With the recent demise of Jennifer Gonzales Roxas, fellow blogger and part of the Cook magazine team, who succumbed to stage 4 breast cancer, the blogging community is grieving, especially those who have one way or another met with Jenny personally during one or more blogger events.

I remember her as the more endearing among her lady friends. She seems to be the most mature or older in her group of other lady bloggers often seen as four lovely ladies of lifestyle. All four of them were the epitome of class and sophistication, but she seemed to be the most reserved or conservative of the four.

I was fortunate to see her just a few days ago during one of the events I attended. I can't help but notice how she seems to be looking different from the former days when I used to see her as gloriously beaming with health and confidence. I never knew she was suffering from cancer lately so I guess the big C does really put you down physically. May it be cancer of the breast, ovary, lungs or any other part of our body, the absence of a cure until now makes cancer so much a dreaded killer.

But I am totally overwhelmed realizing she was still passionately pursuing her blogging activities even though even though she has cancer. This means cancer has failed to totally keep her from her true passion of engaging and socializing at events so she can afterwards tell the stories through her blog.

However, it finally ended her life, but she will remain living in our hearts because of the wonderful memories we will continue to remember of her.

We know she is now at a better place and among the angels looking down on us from the heavens. Thank you Jenny for being a part of our lives.
Life is really unpredictable, and we would always be caught surprised and unprepared for many instances no matter how we think we are ready and able to face challenges.

I believe everyone should take extra effort in determining the possible occurrence of cancer at an early stage so as to have better opportunities to treat the dreaded disease even before it becomes worst. Women should not wait for the time when they feel a lump or pain in their breasts. Please do regularly have a mammogram - an X-ray image of your breast used to screen for breast cancer. Mammograms play a key role in early breast cancer detection and help decrease breast cancer deaths.

Health Cube signage at the lobby of Health Cube Advanced Medical Imaging Unit

I would like to take this opportunity as well to share with you our privilege to get a means to prevent possible occurrence of breast cancer. We were fortunate enough to be given complimentary 3D Mammography examinations provided by the Imaging Center of Health Cube Greenhills. We receive d the services as thanks for attending their formal grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremonies and blessing a few weeks ago. Of course, I let my wife take advantage of the free services and luckily the results came out positive.

The 3D Mammogram equipment at health Cube Imaging Center

Fellow bloggers may want to communicate with Health Cube to ask if they would be willing to provide the same complimentary services in exchange of promoting their services.

The imaging center also provides Bone Densitometry (of which we also availed to prevent Osteoporosis) and CT Scan services. Their fees are not as expensive as that from hospitals who charge a huge amount for the same services.

As always, prevention is better than cure and being proactive in determining our health condition is a lot better than waiting for symptoms and complications to show up at a time when it may be too late to cure.

My wife poses with the 3D Mammography equipment

Regardless of how long we live in this lifetime, we should always remember to leave a memorable legacy, and that should start now. Everyday should be spent as if it our last days on Earth as we are not fully aware of what God has planned for us, so please regularly hug your loved ones, and do the best you can in every endeavor. 

3D Mammography results

Lastly, make sure you have accomplished your share of good deeds. They don't need to be grand as million peso donations to a charity or foundation, what is important is you went beyond your personal interest to reach out to others to either help them out or influence them towards the better path.

You can visit Health Cube Imaging Center at Ground level, BTTC Centre 288 Ortigas Ave. cor. Roosevelt St. Greenhills, San Juan City.