Life after cancer is difficult to imagine, especially when being diagnosed with cancer almost feels like a death sentence, leaving one with no certainty of a life after the debilitating disease. Although survival rates steadily rose in the past 20 years, the sly fear of dying remains throughout treatment, as do the trauma from the multiple injections and the cruel effects from rounds of radiation and chemotherapy, all enough to make one lose heart.
But when TV host-actress Jaymee Joaquin was diagnosed with stage 2A breast cancer, she instead chose to be hopeful. Joaquin had been out of the limelight for a few years now after leaving ABS-CBN and the showbiz industry altogether five years ago, but despite choosing to remain low-key, Joaquin’s cancer journey has been well-documented.
Today, Joaquin’s days are rosy. She can finally say she is cancer-free, with a budding career as a commercial model in Los Angeles, California to boot. In an Instagram post in Jan. 11, Joaquin shared a picture of her standing in front of a camera for a modeling job, her very first in the United States.
“Now I’m convinced that wherever I go, no matter what happens in my life, the camera and I will always, always find our way to each other,” wrote Joaquin. “Call it insane or shallow or whatever. I call it my eternal love and TRUE CALLING.”
Image: Instagram/jaymee_wins
During tougher times last year, Joaquin left nothing spared as she shared honest pictures of her chemotherapy, the first step to her treatment. Despite the effects of the chemotherapy, though, Joaquin still remained positive and full of life, telling her followers boldly that she will beat breast cancer.
“Today is the first day I will conquer you via chemo,” wrote Joaquin on an Instagram post dated Jan. 6. last year. “Watch me win over you with God for 2017.”
Image: Instagram/@jaymee_wins
In later pictures and videos made in April 10 and June 28, 2017, respectively, Joaquin showed her hair being shaved off and a YouTube video of her, post-lumpectomy surgery.
Image: Instagram/@jaymee_wins
Image: Screengrab from YouTube/Jaymee Wins
These days, Joaquin is fully recovered, rocking her new hairdo and more than ready to undertake her next journey. In her latest Instagram post yesterday, she shared about her past challenges on being an actress, challenges that made her feel as if her dreams to work in front of the camera would never come to fruition.
“I’ve always felt that the Philippines didn’t give me the credits I deserved during my ‘artista‘ days despite all my hard work, talent and passion for the craft,” shared Joaquin in honesty, but absent of bitterness. “Perhaps it’s because of the ‘foreign worship’ culture, ‘palakasan‘ system or I’m too real to fit the wholesome peg that Pinoys like. I thought my dream to do professional oncam work is over and I should give up. I was wrong.”
Image: Instagram/@jaymee_wins
Joaquin called out to all the dreamers, urging them to keep chasing their dreams . “To the dreamers out there, never give up. Keep dreaming. Keep thriving. Keep believing,” she wrote. “Madly chase what sets your soul on fire. And hold on to that spark of hope that God is working one ranting that desire in your heart.” JB
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