The pandemic has highlighted the fear of getting ill. There are people, however, who live in this fear for far longer. Cancer warriors and survivors have had to face this fear day in and day out, and understanding the disease and how it affects their lives is key to living a fruitful life.
While there are many forms of cancer that are widely known, such as breast, lung, ovarian and prostate cancer, there are also lesser-known cancers such as lymphoma. Lymphoma is a cancer of the immune system’s infection-fighting cells called lymphocytes, causing them to change and increase uncontrollably. The symptoms include enlarged lymph nodes, chills, weight loss, fatigue but as these are also present in other conditions such as infections, a large number of patients are left undiagnosed.
The lack of information is what inspired cancer survivor Jheric Delos Angeles and his wife Anna Tapel-Delos Angeles to create a community of Filipino patients and their family members to educate more people and provide much needed support to those in need, including fighting for better healthcare.
Such is the mission of Lymphoma Philippines, a non-profit organization for Lymphoma patients, survivors, and caregivers aiming to spread awareness on medically-approved lymphoma-related campaigns in the country.
“It is an unimaginably difficult journey for patients and their loved ones living with cancer.
Having gone through it myself, a strong support system is crucial in the journey and we at Lymphoma Philippines are committed to lending help however possible,” says Lymphoma Philippines co-founder Jheric Delos Angeles.
While lymphoma is considered to be a curable cancer if diagnosed early, access to treatment is a challenge as costs related to the disease can range from one million pesos to three and a half million pesos depending on the hospital and treatment protocol.
Recognizing these challenges, Lymphoma Philippines hopes to continue spreading information and possibly save lives. This includes mental wellness advice for patients and their loved ones; a private Facebook group for patients and their loved ones where they can get information and support from each other; patient navigation that helps patients in their journey from diagnosis to post-treatment and connects them with the right agencies and groups; emotional support groups in partnership with Kanser sa Adolescents and Young Adults (KAYA) and The Carewell Community Foundation; and social work services that can assist patients in their journey.
