Oral cancer advocate remembers brother

Oral cancer is a type of the disease that Mami Ikeda is very much involved in after this caused the death of her brother, Kazunori Ikeda, two years ago. She became an advocate after that, turning into a voice in the campaign against oral cancer.

“It is something that my brother wanted me to do. He could have done it personally if ever he recovered,” said an emotional Ikeda, who attended University of Guam professor Dr. Yvette Paulino’s press conference on the findings of her study of betel nut chewing last Friday at the Governor’s Office conference room.

“He told me to take photos since the first day of his treatment until he died. Pictures that he wanted to show to the community to see what happens and what oral cancer can do to you,” she added. Ikeda’s brother, known as Kazu in the community, died in February 2014.

She said that two of his brother’s friends—Roque Camacho and Jack Sablan—were also with him when they were undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatment. They died two months apart, Camacho in April and Sablan in June.

Ikeda added that she and the families of Camacho and Sablan became close especially during the difficult time after the death of his brother and his two friends. “From the time of their treatment, we regularly see and comfort each other. For me, that’s already an outreach program.”

She became a speaker in the prevention and fight against oral cancer after her brother’s death. “He’s the only family that I got here, now he’s gone. Talking about him to other people healed me a lot.”

“I did not waste the opportunity of spreading oral cancer awareness and prevention. I don’t want to think Kazu died for nothing. It was too late for my brother. It was too late for treatment but it’s never too late for others,” added Ikeda.

Kazu sought chemotherapy and radiation treatment in the Philippines after his lymph nodes became swollen that surrounded his throat and chin. The doctors reassessed his situation to see if he can undergo surgery.

“But the doctor said there’s nothing else that they could do about his situation and gave him two months to live,” said Ikeda, who will again attend the Marianas March Against Cancer on May 13 and 14 at the Hopwood Junior High School grounds in Chalan Piao.

“A member of my family passed away that’s why it has always been hard for me whenever I attend the MMAC. It’s an emotional moment for me and the others since our loved ones are no longer with us,” Ikeda said.

“A member of your family dies but for those left behind, cancer stays with you for the rest of your life. That’s why we respect all survivors of any type of cancer.”