People living with cancer deserve access to holistic treatment, including support, education, and the opportunity to connect with others in a similar situation. That’s why The Max Foundation and its partners offer more than just medicine.
Sandra from Chile started participating in our treatment adherence program, Day by Day, after being diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). She’s been living with the disease for almost a decade now.
“I had barely started sailing in calm waters after overcoming thyroid and breast cancers, when I was immersed in a new storm,” she said. “The CML was an unexpected challenge that tested my resilience.”
The first and second medications Sandra tried had intense and sometimes painful side effects. She’s now on a third-line therapy and responding well.
The Day by Day program helps people manage their treatment plan so they stay on track. Services include monthly phone calls to offer solutions and emotional support, educational materials like brochures, and workshops for patients and their families.
Sandra also receives support from her family, which helps her maintain a positive attitude. Her day starts by taking her four nephews to school before working online for an IT company. She also spends all the time she can with her father and daughters.
“My home has been my refuge,” Sandra said. “I live with my youngest daughter, Catalina, and the father of my daughters, Reinaldo, who have been my fundamental pillar. Together we have faced the ups and downs of this disease.”
Over time, Sandra has learned to adapt to the changes in her body and find new ways to enjoy life. That includes photography, reiki, volunteering, and watching movies. She also takes time to meet and comfort others living with cancer.
“My message is that regardless of diagnosis, it is possible to live a full and meaningful life,” Sandra said. “To all those who are fighting this disease, I say that you are not alone and that there is hope.”
The Max Foundation is a leading global health nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating health equity. For 28 years, Max has pioneered practical, scalable, high-quality solutions to bring life-extending treatments and patient-centered health care to more than 100,000 people living with cancer and critical illness in low- and middle-income countries. Max believes in a world where all people can access high-impact medicines, where geography is not destiny, and where everyone can strive for health with dignity and with hope.
Access to healthcare is fundamental for cancer patients to ensure proper diagnosis and treatment. According to ResearchGate, the average distance a person living in an under-resourced country travels to access healthcare is 15 miles (25 km) one-way or 30 miles (50km) roundtrip. Patients accessing treatment through The Max Foundation travel even further – an average….
Three years ago I made a decision that changed my life: to donate my birthday to support the work of The Max Foundation for as long as I have birthdays to come. Ever since I have been involved with The Max Foundation, every day I am witness to the courage of people faced with cancer, the generosity of spirit of those who become patient leaders, and the dedication of healthcare providers around the world. Join me today by honoring their efforts on my birthday, July 28th.
On a dry sunny Saturday in Addis Ababa, more than 100 people sat in an auditorium at the Black Lion Hospital, intently listening to a panel of experts. Representatives from the Federal Ministry of Health, doctors, local and international NGOs, and concerned citizens, gathered together for the first time, to discuss the challenges of treating cancer in the country. People in the audience were not ordinary people; they were people who were affected by the dreaded C word, cancer. Most of them, parents whose children were undergoing treatment, some of them cancer survivors themselves.
