Breast cancer is a formidable adversary, affecting millions of women worldwide. Traditional treatment often involves chemotherapy, known for its harsh side effects. However, Rowena Alcaide Vasquez, a 45-year-old Filipina living in Dubai, has shown that there can be alternative paths to recovery.
Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020, Vasquez initially had her left breast removed. Despite this aggressive approach, her cancer returned in 2023, presenting a new set of challenges. With the specter of chemotherapy looming, Vasquez made a courageous decision to explore alternative treatments.
“I haven’t undergone chemo earlier nor I wanted to, based on what I had seen in movies and documentaries. I have also heard about the pain and side effects the treatment causes on one’s body. So, I requested my doctors for alternative treatment,” Vasquez said in a Khaleej Times report. Her declining health and respiratory crisis reinforced her decision to seek other options.
In early 2023, Vasquez visited Zulekha Hospital Dubai, experiencing severe pain and respiratory issues. Dr. Anwar Sami Mohsin Ali, her oncologist, noted her critical condition and the presence of a 7-by-7 cm cancerous mass, with additional malignant growths in her lungs, lymph nodes, and bones.
Understanding Vasquez’s reluctance towards chemotherapy, Dr. Ali proposed an innovative treatment plan. The approach combined biological targeted therapy, involving medicines like CDK 4/6 inhibitor Abemaciclib, with hormonal therapies Letrozole and Goserelin, and the bone support agent Zometa.
“Personalized treatment plans tailored to patient preferences and health conditions can achieve positive results,” Dr. Ali explained in a Khaleej Times report. “Vasquez’s case highlights the potential of targeted therapies in managing advanced cancer stages.”
The results were remarkable. After three cycles, Vasquez’s respiratory function normalized, her pain diminished, and the tumor size reduced significantly. By the fifth cycle, her bone pain had vanished, and the local mass nearly disappeared.
“Over the course of treatment, I am very satisfied that the doctor explained the details to me and respected my decision to take this treatment,” she said.
“The nursing team was also very supportive each time I came in to take the injections. My life has improved significantly for which I am thankful to Almighty.”
Dr. Ali emphasized that not all cancer patients require chemotherapy, even in critical conditions. “The advanced stages of the disease can be managed effectively with targeted therapies, enhancing survival rates and improving quality of life,” he said.