The Officers of BCSMI

Ederlinda  J. Austrial

President, BCSMI

“We encourage our fellow breast cancer fighters to search for information as much as they can through library research, attending seminars, connecting with other women, joining support groups and other ways and not only depend everything on their physicians who are usually males and not sensitive to women’s needs When we conduct free public lecture-forums, we invite volunteer doctors to lecture on breast cancer from the medical point of view. Treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiation. And medical procedures are surely taken up by such resource person. Then, we, who have gone through alternative therapies which the Philippine Breast Cancer mentors, Danny and Rosa Meneses, taught us, would share other ways which we think are effective and safer. We even would find time to demonstrate our procedures such as preparation of vegetable juice and enema as cleansing processes. In our group, there are those who are going through the conventional therapies, and there are those who are doing the alternative approaches and those who are combining them. We respect the patient’s right of choice of treatment."

Cecilia M. Niguidula

Vice President, BCSMI

"I have not been diagnosed with breast cancer, not yet, as my colleagues tease me. But I have taken this task of working for the Breast Cancer Society to my heart and pursue it with passion, as strong as my afflicted colleagues. Being a friend of a breast cancer fighter myself, and a relative of an aunt who lost her battle to breast cancer, I realized the hardship that the afflicted woman experience. I committed myself to do as much as I can and utilize my networking skills to help them. It is a great learning experience to join lectures and medical missions of this support group. It is a good feeling that I am able to reach out and touch lives, through my own humble ways. And I’m sure that this is the feeling of other concerned volunteers in the organization."

Elvira P. Galang

JSPS Fellow, Secretary of BCSMI

“Six years ago, when I found out that I had breast cancer and was sick, contrary to my perception that I was very healthy and strong, I was devastated and in silence, asked “Why me and what have I done to deserve this?” When I regained my senses, I came to realize that this has some deeper meaning in my life and I slowly got stronger to face the problem head on. Like my colleagues, our faith in God and the love and support we receive from our families and friends have given us strength to go on this difficult journey. Connecting with people of the same plight and difficult circumstances is very empowering. Also, gaining information easily from the internet and other resources encourage us to make informed decisions. Information and communication technologies and the world wide web have become very valuable in giving survivors access to reliable knowledge, discussion groups, bulleting boards and chat rooms that help them exhange ideas, experiences and knowledge with their peers. Knowledge is power, as the saying goes.”