It's October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month. A few years ago, I did a story on my masseuse and her trials and tribulations. At that time, she had just battled breast cancer but was struggling with its aftermath. Later, I heard she had passed away. I didn't even know she had gotten sick again.
It was only recently that I realized that so many other people that I love have been afflicted with this illness.
Rather than posting infantile Facebook status updates, I think that sharing survivor stories is a better way to raise awareness for breast cancer prevention and its early detection.
I met Chiqui Mabanta in the 90s, when she was still a party girl stumbling about the streets of Malate, and downing shots in the then hip club, Mondo, owned by her brother, Dixie. She has since grown up, while I'm still stumbling about dodgy streets and downing shots at dive bars around town.
While Chiqui has always been in the restaurant business with various members of her family, her own passion project, Corner Tree Cafe, has become THE vegetarian restaurant to go to in Manila. She's catered for high-profile vegos like Morrissey and Ariana Grande backstage at their concerts in the Philippines. In her free time, she volunteers at All Hands Volunteers. She is also the President of the Winner Foundation, a women's environmental group that created the Arroceros Forest Park in Ermita, Manila, and are now fighting to preserve it.
For the record, Chiqui is not a vegetarian. She's a pescetarian. And she still likes to drink.
This is her story in her own words.
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In the 90s, before I found out I had lumps, I was completely unaware of healthy eating or healthy living. Junk food, rum cokes, sugary iced teas, not much vegetables, a lot of processed food. I went to bed really late and had no real routine.
While I was already in the restaurant business, I had business partners. I wasn't in-charge and I didn't have many responsibilities, so I was partying a lot. The only real stress I had was from my relationships back then.
When I felt a lump, I freaked out. I fell on my knees. So, of course, I went to see a doctor. She made me do a mammogram. It showed the lumps were benign, but I had to “monitor” them every six months. So I had mammograms and ultrasounds every so often. Mammograms are one of the most cruel, painful procedures ever.
No lifestyle change. I lived in fear, waiting for the next results, but I continued with my lifestyle. No one mentioned anything about lifestyle.
5 June 2017.
I went to a few doctors recommended by friends. After getting my results, one male doctor actually said, “Well, we’re all going to die anyway.” I never went back to him.
I went to see Dr. Diana Cua, now Balcells. She saw my mammograms and said, “You know, you didn’t need to do all these mammograms." I think I did five. "From the first one, you can tell your kind of lumps is 'starburst'; not one big mass. You should have the next one when you’re 40”. My original doctor was a much older, more conservative woman. I thought, “Shiiit, I wish I knew that!”
So, still living in fear, around 2004, I bumped into Marisette Galang-Recto, a woman I went to school with who was a couple of years older and famously had breast cancer. She did a lot of benefits, magazine and TV interviews. She has since passed away. But I bumped into her then at Glorietta and said, “Mariseeeette! I have lumps!” She gave me the number of this man and told me to contact him.
His name was Danny Meneses. I gave Danny a call and said I had lumps. He seemed like a jovial person on the phone. We chatted for an hour. He told me I should stop doing mammograms. “Why would you expose an already suspicious area to more radiation,” he said. Oo nga naman. He advised that I do Thermal Imaging, a non-invasive check-up, then only found at Capitol Medical Hospital in Quezon City.
I did it in 2005. It showed extreme heat on my right breast.
Cancer always shows up as red. But red does not always mean cancer. It means there are abnormalities. Normal healthy breasts show up as blue and green.
So after the results, I freaked out and said, “Dannyyy! There’s red!" He chuckled and said, “Don’t worry. We’ll just clean you up.” That was reassuring for a change, his attitude. No scaring, just matter-of-fact calmness.
At that time, he had a Breast Cancer Haven in Tiaong, Quezon – a simple four-room house, each room with a door to the outside, and each with its own bathroom.
I did a six-day detox program which involved a lot of natural treatments. Coffee enemas, turmeric tea, live vegetable juice, probiotics, etc. No TV. Just my book, Anthony Bourdain’s "Kitchen Confidential". It was a difficult six days. I lost a lot of weight, and got weak. We were on a strict raw juice diet. I was with two other women with cancer and we tortured ourselves by having conversations about our favorite Pinoy food. Sinigang na baboy, adobo, inihaw na baboy, etc.
Working it. Helping to build fishing boats for typhoon survivors in Samar. 29 June 2015.
But there was also a lot of information given to us. Information I learned for the first time. How breast cancer isn’t just about family history and genetics anymore. That only 5-10% of cases were hereditary, but most cases were first timers in their families. How it is now caused by environmental factors – what we breath, what we put in and on our bodies – chemicals from food, body products, X-rays, medicines, chlorinated water... I learned that our skin, after all, is the biggest organ, and if we are not willing to ingest anything orally then we shouldn’t put it on our bodies. Chemicals mimic estrogen and our bodies don’t know to expel it.
After six days, armed with this information, I decided to experiment and stick to an organic diet for two months, then do another Thermal Imaging after. It was non-invasive and cheap anyway – less than P2k compared to P15k mammograms then. I would even bring my own food to restaurants when I went out with friends. Two months. I didn't drink alcohol, didn't eat meat, and I drank a lot of water.
I had a follow-up Thermal Imaging two to three months later, and the result: the red shrunk and the blues and greens were taking over! I thought, “Holy shit! It’s as simple as that? Clean up your system and it goes away???” That started my journey towards health.
It had to take a warning, of course. And I was lucky I got the warning early. Many aren't as lucky. I firmly believe I would’ve had full blown cancer if I had stuck to what I knew. My unhealthy lifestyle and waiting for the next results, with fear then with relief. I am much more empowered now. I see alternative doctors regularly for prevention. Once there is something that shows in tests, I address it immediately. I take supplements, etc., and then I check months later and all is good again.
I have since learned to meditate, do yoga, face problems - all part of my journey towards self-knowledge and good health.
Kundalini Yoga, reiki, and a gong bath at Mount Purro in Antipolo. 22 January 2017.
Of course, I still drink a lot but, the next morning, I go against what my body craves – “hangover food”, unhealthy heavy comfort food, usually fried - and drink green juice or green smoothies instead. My doctors are always surprised because they know that I drink. “Okey ka rin ha! You drink but you know how to take care of your liver.”
Having a beer at her newest restaurant, Crying Tiger Street Kitchen, with good buddy, Ana Ongpin. February 2017.
Of course, I am aware I could be pushing it. No one is invincible.
But I've done pretty well for myself so far, knock on wood! My latest Thermal Imaging results, which I now do yearly, are all blue and green.
With best mate and travel buddy, Al Dingwall, in Kyoto. January 2012.
Years ago, the same thing happened with my mom. She felt a lump so she had a check-up and a mammogram at St. Luke's in BGC. Her young doctor said her right breast “looks nasty, Tita”, and wanted her to do a biopsy.
She asked me my opinion. I said, “You know how I feel.” Danny said biopsies are risky and can trigger something that wasn’t dangerous. So my mom, against her friends’ wishes, said, “Okay, okay. I’ll do it your way.” Galit pa!
I stressed that she couldn't do both. That she had to choose one path and stick to it. You can't detox and put toxins in at the same time.
She had Thermal Imaging done. She showed red in the breast that was detected by mammo, but her other breast showed even worse results, which were undetected by the mammogram.
So she did the same protocol. Coffee enemas, juicing, yoga. etc.
Two years later, she's 80 and she is fine. The reds are almost gone. A couple of her friends who were worried about her have since passed away. Some other friends need their nurses to help them walk. My mom still travels a lot. She is really healthy. We did a general test with another alternative doctor and she had even better statistics than me!
I am grateful for meeting Danny, who is not a doctor but I trust more than most doctors. And I am thankful for Marisette Galang-Recto, bless her soul, for connecting me to him.
I am against the pink ribbon campaign. Breast cancer awareness? We know it exists, but they don’t say prevention is key. Regular check-ups don’t do it. Mammograms are invasive and harmful. Their benefit events have a lot of desserts for sale. Sugar isn't good for cancer at all. They do raise a lot of funds and are one of the most successful in the world. Fun runs, especially in a polluted city like ours, don’t prevent breast cancer though. It’s all about being informed and continuing to get educated.
I'd like to encourage women to do Thermal Imaging. St. Luke's in Quezon City now has it. It is non-invasive and can serve as a baseline, and give you an early reading of whether there are abnormalities in the breast or not. Mention Danny's name so results are sent to him and he can interpret them for you. You can contact Danny Meneses at +63 (917) 676 0578. He is always happy to share information.
I think many conventional doctors instill fear, and fear kills. I don't think cancer is a death sentence. It is just a warning for us to get back on track. Many see it as a blessing actually. It's an opportunity to put things in perspective, to strengthen ties, and do what's really important.
Chiqui is currently a foster parent to this baby girl for a few months. 5 July 2017.
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This series is dedicated to Rose Capua, my masseuse, who passed away from breast cancer on January 21, 2014, and to all the brave women who are battling this illness now.