Healing for Transformation and Empowerment

Philippine Breast Cancer Network

Global Action for the Eradication of Breast Cancer

Tiaong Breast Haven

"The miracle we seek is not in this life but in other lives ours have touched."

On September 23rd 2002, the Rosa F. Meneses Breast Cancer Foundation inaugurated the country's first and only breast cancer recovery center in the Municipality of Tiaong, Province of Quezon, about 100 kms south of Manila. Tiaong Breast Haven now serves as an alternative venue for empowering women afflicted with the disease - to confront, overcome and live with breast cancer with full honor and dignity.

With a cool climate and clean air that the body needs; the peace, quite and serenity that the mind seeks; and nestled on the slopes of a breast-shaped mountain, Tiaong Breast Haven is an ideal place where a woman can regenerate, recharge and renew her trust and faith in life - where she can learn to pursue physical, emotional and spiritual upliftment towards self-empowerment as she wages her personal battle with breast cancer.

Tiaong Breast Haven consists of two large huts enveloped by a bamboo balcony and constructed mostly of native materials. There are a total of eight rooms, each with a toilet & bath that can comfortably accommodate 16 women. A multi-purpose hut, a spiritual room and a sauna room are added features of the facility.

Whether medically diagnosed or suspected to be afflicted with breast cancer, women are given the opportunity to celebrate life once again, no longer counting the years but living each day to the fullest. They are given the chance to attain transformation and empowerment from being mere victims into breast cancer warriors!

Must Know on Breast Cancer:

1. Breast cancer won't be fatal for as long as it stays restricted to your breast. A cancerous tumor in a non-vital organ, like the breast, is not fatal. Only when the cancer spreads (metastasizes) to a life-sustaining organ, such as the lungs, brain or liver, or to bone does the cancer become life-threatening. One can thus live with breast cancer.

2. Many women receive more treatment than is necessary to treat their breast cancer. Breast cancer takes many forms and affects each woman differently. Some breast cancers will never spread beyond the breast or metastasize to life-sustaining organs, others will. However, most women receive treatments to reduce the risk of metastasis or recurrence no matter what type of breast cancer they have. Surgery is not always necessary and when it is so, lumpectomies have replaced mastectomies as being more beneficial as now experienced in America and Japan.

3. At the time of diagnosis, it can not be determined with certainty whether or not ones breast cancer will be life-threatening. Currently, there is no conclusive diagnostic tool that can determine whether or not a womans breast cancer will recur or metastasize and become life-threatening. Until we can answer this question, it is impossible to tell who will benefit from chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, and radiation and who will not - leaving women with more questions than answers about their treatment choices.

4. Many cases of breast cancer after surgery do not require chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, or radiation. Not all womens breast cancer will recur or metastasize, making standard, post-surgical treatments like chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, and radiation unnecessary. Reducing the risk of breast cancer spreading to other parts of the body or recurring in the breast can be achieved through alternative, natural and non-toxic means.

Upon deciding to confront breast cancer, fighters undergo a non-toxic and non-invasive protocol adapted from the principles and concepts of the highly successful and long experiences of Rudolf Breuss, Max Gerson and Sat Dharam Kaur, all of whose natural approaches to human healing combine very well in providing a fantastic therapy in the battle against breast cancer. The program jump starts patients on a 42-day fasting with only raw vegetable juice and turmeric tea, to remove the metabolic waste from the body, free the cells membranes from protein build-up (which suffocates the cell thus preventing proper oxygenation), and provide the body with the necessary essential vitamins and minerals while fasting. Daily coffee enema will eliminate estrogen by-products, environmental estrogens and toxins from the colon and the liver through the urine and stool.

To view a photo album of Tiaong Breast Haven, please click on the following:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/philippinebreast/album?.dir=/bf81&.src=ph&.tok=phBcyqDBcEMGcK2e

Click for a magazine article on Tiaong Breast Haven:
http://www.medobserver.com/apr2004/ifwarriors.html

Meet some of the Breast Cancer Warriors

"The long and bumpy road that sometimes threw me off my seat brought me to a place which I never expected to exist in a very remote place like Sitio Banginan, San Pedro, Tiaong, Quezon. Two beautiful nipa huts artistically designed and built with features that answer to my personal needs seemed to welcome me. Got more touched upon seeing an altar in a solemn setting, assuring me of my spiritual upliftment. The lush green vegetation, songs of the birds surround the place and fleeting butterflies that sometimes almost brush one’s face seemed all part of the welcoming committee. Everything I saw filled me with gladness that I said to myself I was right in my decision to come here in search of a remedy or find ways to deal with my malady – breast cancer! The protocol, especially the nightly enema was almost unbearable. But convincing myself that tomorrow I’ll see the bright sun again, hear the songs of the birds, see the beautiful people like Danny, Cristy, my husband Dodong who came with me, Mary my co-fighter and Mang Nando the caretaker. I tell myself to be strong, to stand up and fight!"

"Now our stay is over. The excitement of going home is mixed with nostalgia about leaving the place, the beautiful people that helped me muster this courage to fight. I’ll surely miss Danny, this great guy with intense dedication to help women like me fight this deadly dreaded disease with full dignity. I’ll miss his happy stories, his warm personality, his contagious laughter, his music (I hear from a distance) and everything about him.

Cristy, the angel in disguise who never tires in administering those things for us, checking how we are doing, making us comfortable even at night will equally be remembered and put permanently in my memory bank and in my heart. I admire her not running short of patience seeing us break some rules in the protocol. I thank God for creating people like Cristy. Mang Nando’s calm presence and helping hands never come unnoticed. His presence and role, as simple as it seems made it a complete haven. Thank you Lord, Thank you Danny, Thank you Cristy, Thank you Mang Nando and most especially, Thank you Rosa !" Ever grateful, Babes - Teresita Q. Bajao (53) Tagbilaran, Bohol

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"When I decided to come to Tiaong, I brought along one thing with me FAITH! I had no idea where the place was. Raymond Yu Ekey, a very good friend of Danny told me that, with trust in God, I can reach the place safely. The long travel all the way from Cotabato City made me really sick almost an hour in the baggage claim area at the Manila domestic airport, a long queue to get a taxi to the bus terminal, heavy traffic, hunger, smell of vehicular fumes, so much noise all these added much discomfort that made me vomit thrice in the 3-hour bus ride. I arrived at Tiaong past 9 pm where Danny and Cristy had been waiting for me for several hours at the municipal building. Traveling for another six kilometers prompted me to ask Danny why he chose a place far from the town proper with such bumpy dirt road. He answered, "Julie, the road to heaven isnt easy." I didnt say a word because I know its true. I was so tired and hungry that upon reaching the breast haven, my body just dropped on the bed. Yet, I wasnt able to sleep at once because I enjoyed the chorus of the crickets with frogs croaking as 'back-up singers.' Early in the morning, I went to the cozy balcony of the hut and the birds seemed to welcome me with their beautiful sounds, while the trees were strumming their branches and then the rain started tapping on the roof like drums. Aaaah! And the wind was blowing fresh air. What a beautiful morning, living in the heart of nature felt great! With a clear view of the breast mountain, fresh air, clean mountain water and no pollution what a great therapy for breast cancer victims like me. While sitting on the rocking chair, I asked myself, 'Why only now?' Hmmm, I now have peace of mind!"

"The protocol began when Cristy came into my room. It seemed so tough and hard for me but chemotherapy is so much more difficult. I thank God I got to know of the PBCN and met Danny and Cristy. I describe Danny as the loving husband of Rosa and doting father to her children with great concern and passion to help women all over the country with breast cancer. He is Gods instrument to make women fully aware of the devil that chemotherapy brings to ones life. Cristy, the committed nurse of the PBCN has this good-natured attitude that made me admire her. Her care, patience and laughter I cannot equate all she did for me in the midst of the typhoon. not to mention also, Mang Nando, the caretaker. The days I spent in Tiaong Breast Haven cant be expressed in words alone. All the care, moral support and information from the learned Danny and Cristy cannot be exchanged with any amount of money. It opened my eyes and helped me to fight more against this killer illness. I will continue to fight for my children, grandchildren, relatives and friends. God bless the PBCN to continue to flourish. Tiaong Breast Haven is a place of Hope, Wisdom and Recovery. Danny, thank you very much! Cristy, may God give you good health always as you continue to serve your fellow women the breast cancer victims. Danny and you are our inspiration. Blessings will return to you a hundred fold. Rest assured I will spread the good news in Cotabato and will be a part of the crusade of the breast cancer warriors!" To Jesus with Mary - Julie B. Acuña (53) Cotabato City

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"Words are not enough to say how thankful
I am. Thank you very much not only for the knowledge but also for the time and efforts given us. Tiaong Breast Haven is really a nice place, conducive for healing. It's really a heaven for me, surrounded by angels that come into my life. My life has been made more meaningful. May God bless the PBCN and continue to guide it in the pursuit of its mission. More Power to the PBCN!"

- Ruth Herminia Policarpio (47)

Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija

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"Ako po ay nagpapasalamat nang lubos sa PBCN dahil maayos ako naasikaso. Sana marami pa silang matulungan na katulad namin na ganito ang kalagayan. Sana naway guminhawa ako at gabayan ako ng Diyos – at ang PBCN na rin, laging gabayan Niya. Hindi ko makakalimutan ang unang dating ko dito – sa pagtulog, medyo nanibago ako pero sa sunod na gabi, nasanay na din. Hindi ko makakalimutan ang lugar na ito habang buhay at hanggang kamatayan ko’y maaalala ko po ang PBCN. Sana may awa ang Diyos at bigyan pa Niya ako ng buhay pa at pagalingin Niya ako. Lahat ng natutunan ko dito ay gagawin ko." -Marivic Cailao (41), Muntinlupa City, M.M.

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"The haven and your kindness compensated for the difficulties I encountered during the protocol. It really challenged my will, wits and strength and it feels good! I guess that's what breast cancer warriors are made of. Well, maybe your way of preparing us for the outside world. Thanks so much and long live the PBCN till it exists no more! God bless Tiaong Breast Haven!"

- Lina Marie Sabay (46)

Lipa City, Batangas

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"Maraming salamat sa lahat ng ipinakita nyong paglilingkod. Higit sa struggle na hinaharap ko, ang suporta at encouragement na ipinakita nyo ang nagpalakas ng aking loob to go on fighting. Ang laban na ito'y hindi lang para sa 'kin kundi para sa mga mahal ko sa buhay na umaasa sa akin. Sa katulad kong lumaki sa syudad, ang lugar na 'toy talagang naging isang HAVEN sa akin. Muli, maraming salamat, lalo na sa alaala ni Rosa. Pagpapalain kayo ng Diyos na lumiksa sa ating lahat.," - Sol Dolores (54), Bacalaran

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"Sa PBCN ko lang nalaman na mahalaga pala ang hinaharap. Sa inyo ko lang din po nalaman na pwede palang kumain ng simpleng pagkain lang. Ang galing ng PBCN magalaga at ang ganda ng Tiaong Breast Haven. I pray and pray that the PBCN may be able to reach out and help more and more women. God Bless the PBCN!" - Rosalie Cambal (18), Sampaloc, Quezon

Off with their Breasts!

http://www.bcaction.org/Pages/SearchablePages/1996Newsletters/Newsletter036B.html