Breast Cancer Advocates Sing and Dance the Battle Out

October, the International Breast Cancer Awareness Month, brings renewed hope and strength to survivors, advocates, and communities worldwide. In Oriental Mindoro, women and their allies turned to music, movement, and art to spread the message: early detection saves lives.

Dr. Patricia Caballero, diagnosed with Stage 3A breast cancer and now on her fourth year of treatment, proudly calls herself a survivor. Doctors say that those who live five years or more after diagnosis may be considered survivors, but Caballero believes survival begins with courage.

She channels her experience into advocacy, promoting early screening and detection even at the village level, and pushing for the establishment of a cancer facility at the Oriental Mindoro Provincial Hospital in Calapan City, Philippines, where she works.

A 2023 study by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies revealed that only 1 percent of Filipino women, about 540,000 out of 54 million, have been screened for breast cancer. PhilHealth also noted that 65 percent of cases are detected at an advanced stage, significantly reducing the five-year survival rate.

Caballero joined fellow advocates and artists at the Pink Dry Run: D’Feeting Breast Cancer through Singing and Dancing for a Cause, held on October 10.

The event formed part of a month-long observance that began with the Pink Lighting of Plaza del Gobernador in Manila, and included breast cancer lay forums, art therapy sessions, and fundraising exhibits themed “Mahal Susu-portahan Tana.” The activities, staged mostly in private hospitals, featured works by the Oriental Mindoro Medical Society Likha, Voyage: The Mindoro Artists Group, and Persons Deprived of Liberty from the Bansud District Jail.

Performers and participants hoped that “in every step and note,” the message to unite against breast cancer would resound louder. Among them were dancers from Dezza Dreamer Academy, visual artists from Voyage, women from the Dao Water Lily Association who wove eco-friendly bags from discarded materials, and volunteers from the Mindoro Breast Cancer Support Group.

The Breast Cancer Surgical Caravan 2025 at the Oriental Mindoro Provincial Hospital offered free screening and biopsy.

Surgeon Dr. Mervin Tan emphasized the importance of early detection, teaching participants how to conduct self-examinations and advising screening from age 20, mammograms at 40, or earlier at 30 for those with a family history or genetic risk. He recounted treating a patient who ignored symptoms and relied on herbal remedies, only to return with Stage 4 cancer.

“The pink ribbon is not just a symbol,” Tan said. “It is a promise that we will stand shoulder to shoulder with those affected and work toward a future where survival is the norm.”

Surgeon Dr. Michael dela Paz, a key organizer of this year’s Breast Cancer Awareness (BCA) events, recalled that the campaign began in 2014 with a Pink Fun Run in Manila, later inspiring local versions in Oriental Mindoro, from Dr. Lorman Goco’s Pink Ride, to Pink CrossFit, and even a Pink Paw Run with dogs.

“In 2023, when you googled breast cancer, herbal remedies topped the results,” dela Paz said. “Now, a year later, you’ll find more about standard care, early screening, detection, and treatment, thanks to these awareness efforts and to the work of local media and information offices.”

Still, he added, unhealthy lifestyles remain a major risk factor.

Among the performers was Coach Dezza of Dezza Dreamer Academy, who sang her original song “Pinatapang na Puso” (“A Heart Made Stronger”), now set to become the theme of future campaigns.

“It’s personal,” she said. “Almost all my aunts lost their breasts to cancer, and I lost a dear friend who refused treatment.”

Sixteen-year-old Hannah shared that she felt blessed to join the event, as her father’s side also has a history of breast cancer. Monique, a mental health advocate, added that even the smallest act of support means a lot, “especially for women who have sacrificed so much.”

(Madonna Virola is a freelancer based in the Philippines who contributes to RVA regularly.)