‘My scars are my trophies’

Oral cancer survivor Melvin T. Sakisat addresses several cancer survivors during his brief talk at the Marianas March Against Cancer dinner honoring survivors and sponsors at the Kanoa Resort. (Erwin Encinares)

Melvin T. Sakisat’s wife was about five months pregnant when he was diagnosed with oral cancer in November 2017.

Being told that he had cancer not only came with a cascade of emotions but also fear. Fear of not seeing his child. Fear of missing out on his child’s life. Fear of not being there as his child is growing.

In fact, Sakisat missed his child’s birth as he was in the Philippines, receiving chemotherapy.

“My biggest fear was missing out on the life of my baby,” he said.

Sakisat told the story of the roller-coaster of emotions he went through last Wednesday during a dinner at the Kanoa Resort Saipan that honored the Marianas March Against Cancer’s sponsors and cancer survivors.

Speaking at a program during the dinner, Sakisat shared his mental journey along with his struggles with coping with cancer and recovering from it.

“You are overwhelmed with all the bad emotions. …It took me a while to get over it but, once I accepted the fact that I had cancer, it was game on,” he said.

Sakisat noted that his doctors did not inform him which stage his cancer was.

“Life after cancer is a whole lot different. …The biggest challenge was making adjustments to my new normal,” he said.

While his recovery is doing just fine, there are times when he would get distorted and “too distant.”

“I learned to look at things from a different perspective. I learned just how beautiful a day can be. …My priorities have drastically changed and I cherish my family now more than ever,” he said. “My scars are my trophies and they always bring a smile to my face when I see them. It is a constant reminder that I am one tough [person].”

John Brondo, a 13-year-old leukemia survivor, told Saipan Tribune that he was diagnosed when he was only 3 years old. He has been cancer-free since 2012.

“I feel happy. I feel free,” he said.

Retta Sue Hamilton, one of two inspirational speakers at tomorrow’s MMAC along with Israel De Leon, told Saipan Tribune that she was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer on Jan. 6, 2015. Hamilton was diagnosed with poorly differentiated invasive ductal carcinoma, a common type of breast cancer.

Hamilton noted in an interview with Saipan Tribune that she took a less traveled route to find healing—a treatment that was more focused on diet, exercise, and general healthy living.

“I try to tell people not to own cancer. Owning it is like [setting intentions],” she said. Hamilton noted that she was declared cancer-free just this April 2019.

“I strongly believe in the body’s ability to heal itself. We need to be proactive rather than reactive in our approach to our own health and wellness. I see this happening a lot now and it makes me smile,” Hamilton said in a statement.

De Leon will speak later tonight at the MMAC about his experience with squamous cell carcinoma oral cancer. He was diagnosed with the disease on April 2017.

The 2019 MMAC, hosted by the Commonwealth Cancer Association, would be held tonight starting at 5:30pm at the Commonwealth Ports Authority field. It will last until 6am tomorrow. The event raises funds for the CCA.