ALEXANDRA LAMB MORAN
Business Development Director, John Clements Consultants, Inc.
“Every moment matters on your path to recovery.”
I believe it is essential to take charge of your health without delay. Don’t put it off. A cancer diagnosis can be terrifying and overwhelming, but the key is not to wait. I was diagnosed at age 36, so I was quite young. And although my cancer was discovered early, it was very aggressive. So, I wanted to do everything in my power to eliminate it and give myself the best chance for recovery. I had a four-year-old son, and I wanted to ensure I would be around for him for a long time to come. I was young, I was strong, and I had a lot to live for. Now, after 26 years, I continue to be cancer-free!
It takes a village to get through your cancer journey. I have a few people, my support network, to credit for sticking with me through this difficult time in my life — my family, close friends, and health care team for getting me through my cancer journey. Kara (ICanServe’s co-founder) is also one of them. She was the only person I knew who had cancer so I reached out to her. She shared her fears, her journey, and her strength with me, and encouraged me to open up about my own experience. Back then, I lived and received treatment in Hong Kong. That was a challenging time because my mother was on her third month in intensive care in Manila as she was recovering from a brain aneurysm surgery. I couldn’t bring myself to tell her about my cancer due to her fragile condition. Keeping the news from her became an added burden, as I didn’t want anyone else to let it slip either. Even as she gradually improved, I remained a source of strength and positivity for her, hiding my treatments and struggles. But through all these, I began sharing my story with the larger breast cancer community in Hong Kong. I even created an expat support group for women going through the same battle in a foreign country, offering them counsel, encouragement, and a safe space to share their journeys.
#ICSat25
#SurvivorStories
-
- “Every moment matters on your path to recovery.”
-
- ALEXANDRA LAMB MORAN, Business Development Director, John Clements Consultants, Inc.
-
- ALEXANDRA LAMB MORAN, Business Development Director, John Clements Consultants, Inc.
-
- “Every moment matters on your path to recovery.”
-
- Learn about breast cancer signs and symptoms: https://www.icanservefoundation.org/about-breast-cancer/
-
- Download the breast cancer patient manual: https://www.icanservefoundation.org/patients-manual/
Photos by: Patrick Uy
Icons of Hope is a social media campaign that features cancer survivors who share their own stories, learnings and the lives they now live. It is part of ICANSERVE Foundation’s 25th anniversary celebration in collaboration with Camera Club of the Philippines. With thanks to Owen Santos and Zonia Bandoy.