A breast cancer journey with community support; Eva Allela's story

Four years ago, Allela discovered a lump during a shower, prompting her to seek medical advice from an oncology breast surgeon.

Following a series of tests, including a biopsy, Allela was told that the lump was malignant.

“For a moment, my mind went blank, I was sort of in a daze, then it hit me I had cancer,' she recalls.

Like many, she initially envisioned the grim realities portrayed in movies, picturing patients suffering from hair loss and deteriorating health.

“I didn’t see myself conquering cancer,” she admits. 

Despite the emotional turmoil, Allela’s journey was marked by resilience. She faced numerous challenges, particularly the severe side effects of chemotherapy.

“The treatment was the toughest part. My body was in pain, I had headaches, and my mouth became sore. I experienced numbness in my hands and feet,” she explained.

Allela did not face financial burdens due to her insurance coverage, which alleviated some of her stress.

Support from family and friends proved vital during her treatment. She acknowledges that support from family members helped her deal with both physical and emotional distress.

“That was really comforting for me. My family and friends visited me, and I believe I really needed their support,” she shares.

Upon her diagnosis, Allela was introduced to a support group abroad where they would talk about their experience.

"This gave me the push to start speaking so that the next person who is diagnosed can find a familiar face with a similar experience. Today, we have a lot of breast cancer survivors speaking and educating others about breast cancer, People are more open and I am glad that we are accepting that it is something that we can speak about,” she says.

Today, she shares her story to educate, raise awareness and connect with others facing the same battle.

Allela encourages women to have self-breast examinations regularly for early detection and treatment.