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.
The Max Foundation is joining Poptivism — a consumer-driven charitable giving program that sells unique PopSocket Grips and donates 50% of the sales of those PopGrips to support a nonprofit’s mission (that’s us!). Please consider purchasing one of our Poptivism PopGrips today! With each purchase, you’ll help expand access to lifesaving cancer treatment the world over.
On October 23rd we visited the out-patient department of the Philippine General Hospital to distribute a recent shipment of hats that we had received from With Love in Every Stitch. It was amazingly beautiful to see the faces of small children queuing up to choose the hats they liked. The children were fascinated with the colors and designs of the hats. They gladly tried them on and proudly showed them to their parents and the other children.
Thousands of patients are diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) annually around the world. CML, like any other cancer, does not discriminate. It affects people from all regions and walks of life. However, unlike many other cancers, CML has an amazing story due to advancements made in its treatment in the last decade. It was only 15 years ago that a patient newly diagnosed with CML would have a prognosis of survival of less than 5 years with the treatments available at the time.
