Maria Isabel Perez details her cancer journey and support she received

Maria Isabel Perez, known to family and friends as maribel, arrived on Guam from the Philippines in 2012. For the next decade she would work at the Guam Regional Medical City as their Business Development Manager.

Before sharing her cancer journey, she admitted that she is a bad example of a patient. 

Prior to coming to Guam, she was aware that she had a genetic predisposition, with her parents, and other immediate family having cancer. She said she was in denial despite noticing something off on her right breast.

She further confessed, “Everytime i do my annual checkup because I work in the hospital, I skipped my mammogram.that was really bad of me.”

In 2019, Perez went home to the Philippines for vacation, it was there she noticed something off on her left breast.

“That's the time I got scared because I knew it. I knew it already,” Perez added. 

For the next three days, her vacation was spent at the medical city running all kinds of tests and a biopsy. After the diagnosis, a plan of attack and a team was ready to go. 

But she returned to Guam to inform her boss who insisted on examining her to see if there was anything he could do. The recommendation? Surgery.

“This is where I prayed so hard. I asked, lord, what should I do? My two children said, mama, you just trust the process....trust your doctor, trust the lord that the best option for you is here,” she said. 

In December of 2019, Perez had her surgery. In her words, it was a breeze.

“I think it's just a matter of faith and trust,” she added. 

After surgery she endured chemotherapy and radiation. It was afterwards, during a check, there was something  of concern that prompted doctors to alter her maintenance plan. 

“I think it's called immuno-therapy pills. It's a 21-day pill regimen I take. Then I will take a break for a week. then start back up. Thank God I'm doing it. I've been doing it for more than 4 years. I do monitory labs monthly. I'm so grateful that I followed whatever the doctor tells me,” she said. 

Perez said since her cancer diagnosis, she has had to make some lifestyle changes  eating more vegetables and fruits, and what she eats, she does so in moderation but they are changes she does not endure alone

“My husband recently also got diagnosed with cancer. So we do it together. We learn together and we are each other's support system,” she said. 

And speaking of support system? She said Guam's very good.

“Guam Cancer Care, American Cancer Society, Edward M. Calvo Cancer Foundation, because I worked in the hospital, they were my friends.....the nurses at the clinic did everything for me even before I asked it,” she said. 

And who does she think pink for? Those who are on a similar journey.

“I have colleagues, I have classmates in high school, and even friends. They say prayer is most powerful when you pray  for others. I believe in that,” she said. “I think pink for a lot of women who have not gone into preventive care for themselves. Taking care of yourself is the most important way by which you can prolong your life.”