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1st Prize in the category
Patient Services
America 2007 Excellence Award
granted by the American Cancer Society
by the "Patient Health Project
oncology Gambling Foundation
to Life "Santiago de Chile
We thank:
Testimonials
Rubén Grimberg "These are our choices, not our circumstances that determine our own destiny." In the early months of 2007 due to pains in my knee, I think I did a check a joint problem and it's a blood count that Internet researching statistics, the remainder of my life, did nothing but accelerate the times, anxiety and depression. I was saying goodbye to everyone, complying literally with the cancer patient manual misinform. Misinformation that there was another story, that of Bet to Life Foundation, a YES, YOU CAN. It is with people, meeting as if it were the chemical treatment, doctor. This is the treatment. I began to change all risk factors to which he was exposed, I overcame the panic attacks was beginning to make the protagonist of my life. It's not magic, I'll take time and accompany this process, my controls better, my physical part immediately acknowledged receipt of my new attitude. It is this same attitude that allows me to meet Lymphocytic Leukemia without chemical treatment, since I have not indicated at this time. I was not looking for life on the Internet as I was, I saw that new developments coming out every day, definitely improved and curing the disease. Thanks Silvia, Thanks Anita, for the tremendous work they perform, thank my colleagues, those who fought and won them the statistics, Mirrors of Life in which I was inspired, if -------------
María Prato LIVING THE LIFE BECAUSE "YES" I always remember my first day of group on the sidewalk turned round hesitating to enter. He thought that those attending these meetings were a bunch of "fanatics of the good vibes," everyone happy with their heads bare ... I resisted that idea absurd cancer. But I went and saw all the group singing around a guitar. Confirm my suspicions were a sect of worshipers of chemo! I almost retired but I stopped to listen to the letter which accompanied the chanting melody ... suddenly I began to mourn. That song told me there were times of storms, fear and confusion, anguish and despair but also a second chance, a fresh start, the miracle of life and give birth again My tears kept coming, the first time someone put into words my feelings ... someone understood what was happening. So I stayed. In "Bet to Life" I discovered that the world is full of terminally ill, gray people, common and resigned that cancer do not need to feel threatened. That the passivity of a meaningless life is more risky than the worst of the tumors. That there are treatments for cancer, but there is little pills for the soul, healing the remedy is more freedom to be yourself and that change starts within each of us. That if we heal the mind, heal your life. Feeling full requires determination, responsibility, acceptance and love. It all begins with noticing. If I think I have everything to gain, is my opportunity to give me the Great Life! I'm starting but I'm not alone, my companions with me. However, life is my battle, not touching me but I chose to fight. I have a one certainty ... my life starts every day. THIS IS A GOOD NEWS! ------------
In 1997, for 11 years and four months after I married, I was diagnosed with colon cancer which they operated. Shortly after a brutal liver metastasis put me on the edge of death. My doctors thought that it was inoperable and proposed to QT, however said they would live for three to five months nothing else, was terminally ill and hopeless. I was devastated, had received a tremendous slap in the soul, I wanted to live but the reality was that I would die. Fortunately a friend of my mother told me about the bet to Life group, advised me to go because I was going to do well. It was starting the World Cup in France '98 when I attended a Saturday, for the first time this group. I arrived with expectations, fears and anguish. What struck me was that cancer patients there were not complaining of having cancer and consoling each other, but her positive attitude. Life were gladiators who were fighting a very tough fight but standing and with conviction. In truth I wanted to be like them and so I suggested it. With the help of Silvia, my teammates and a great teacher for me was Hugo Basilico, I was gaining faith, trust and hope the changes were very large and noticeable. I started a new treatment to another specialist and year-end controls showed a marked improvement. A year later, in November of 99 I had surgery because of liver conditions were. It was a complex intervention itself, as I removed 65% of the body. Then the situation became very difficult due to unexpected events, the infiltration of a severe lung infection, which put at risk my life for two months, but left healthy and cancer free. The huge scars that cross my body are eloquent examples and a memorial of how costly it was for me back to health. Barely begun my convalescence at home, back to the ring. This time my wife was Adriana who operated breast cancer. I accompanied my bloody bandages at the time. He related treatments and well. For the type of cancer was strongly advised us not to have children by the possible danger he represented, and if I got pregnant we suggested an abortion. But life was stronger, and Mayra is now six years. She is truly "life daughter. In her kisses and hugs I feel that it is God who kisses me and hugs. I just turned 10 years of uninterrupted Bet to life, I participated in many meetings like this. My testimony is perhaps larger, rather than transmit words, being alive and healthy force. I say categorically that cancer is CURABLE, which can be, I do not mean hearsay, but I speak from experience. And you, cancer patients Bet you're not, I tell you that you have your place here. I'll call you comrade and brother. I invite you to travel the road of life and health. If I could, you also can not. Yes, yes, yes. Thank you very much! ------------
Today, after many years in Bet to life and several meetings My life is full of achievements, satisfactions and projects to be undertaken. 2 events that I lived my life totally changed. First a diagnosis of cancer, Hodgkin lymphoma, that my world collapsed. As I look for a place to contain me, being aware of new developments in the fight against cancer and started treatment at the Institute Roffo, where I received Dr. Marta Zerga that stopped me, told me what it was this disease and what I remember most is the proposal to fight together against cancer. From 2000 to 2003 (with 3 relapses) received 8 chemotherapies, linear accelerator, salvage therapy, monoclonal antibody and prepared for a bone marrow transplant auto At this point in my life and had no hope that the treatments worked. I was dying. The second moment that radically changed my life was when I got to bet to Life where I could only say my name in tears and tear and not sure would live to be 45 years because I considered myself a deceased. As the groups attended was a shift in me, I started hearing and seeing my friends Hugo and Sarah who had gone through what I do, that the fight was intense, difficult, but if they had been able I could also. With great effort mine and accompanied by professionals and my peers I went up, convinced that cancer is a before and after and after that I wanted as a protagonist. Giving me a second chance I was delayed making decisions that would not let me be at peace with me. He arrived to Bone Marrow Transplant, I was hospitalized 24 days, beating every day this difficult treatment which was successful, sustained by my children, my mother (tireless companion) and all my peers. 9 years ago I was diagnosed with cancer, 6 years I have attended a bet and I'm 5 years disease free. Gone was the person who came to the group anesthetized with a life without prominence. Today as I live I decide to run from the things that led me sick. This is not easy or miraculous. It's a constant struggle but full of accomplishments in the pursuit of enjoyment and well being. I concur with the groups receiving the new teammates as at the time I received my showing them that if you can !!!!!!! -------------
At age 21, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Cancer equals death, echoed in my head. With much anguish I began chemotherapy and radiation. She was afraid to suffer and wonder WHY ME? Because at this point in my life. I cried alone in the corner, I felt that nobody understood me. He had lost weight a lot and got sick of chemo. That could take no more, one day I went to church to ask God to help me. Someone with all her love Bet invited me to Life. At first I was afraid of meeting a group that I prepare for death, but I found people struggling to live, enjoy life and many of them had beaten cancer. If I could, vos podes!, They said. My attitude change, I began to choose the crazy, because I chose life, treatment ceased to be a pain for remedies that cure. A year after the surgery, a sore hip kept me from walking, "bone metastases". They gave me three to five months. I chose to live, and prepared to fight with all the tools. I spent six months without walking, and I could not move, I began to paint, to make porcelain and organizing my wedding, as planned. He came to the group in the arms of my husband is now in the group had not pity me, strengthened my hope, my faith. While the pain took my mind away from my body, with more conviction thought she would leave. The word of God says - "Believe and you will obtain it" - and I believed. Chemo went by, one after another, I began to walk, to rehabilitate circling the table, so I got better, the treatment began to be successful. It's time for my wedding, I walked through the front door of the church walking my dad's arm, amid applause. Bet opened my eyes, I realized that I choose as I live, things are not easy, I had several relapses, the group teaches me to face them, to not be afraid to go to crazy with much faith. It's hard work, to see reality, learn to say no, to take us another attitude problems, but it's worth being alive. I'm not the same as before, I'm better. Today I'm 27, I am studying, working and with many projects. I thank God for this second chance, thanks to support from my family, friends, prayer with faith, heart, Gambling, my doctor, my husband. Today we might write a thousand pages, I think the most important testimony I can give is that I'm just here with you, I'm alive! ---------------
My name is Laura, I'm 57 years old, five, to me the annual controls the gynecologist, I detected a cystic carcinoma in my left breast cancer, what word it not, that word that paralyzes all with one name, that was the step I was thinking about death. I had the surgery, I made 67 applications rays and then medication for five years. After I had surgery I thought I was, I had it all figured out, to my surprise it was not, (I had not yet fallen sheet), but when I fell for help, I found a yoga partner, invited me to attend a group, where she went, Bet to life, and as the word says, is what we learn, we're betting "live" Why, choosing to live well, we learn to be the protagonists of our history and therefore we can change the story we put together, full of myths and mandates. Bet to life, is what gave me the strength to confront the threat that was cancer. When you reach the group, wore a backpack that I was carrying for years, fears, anxieties, pain, frustration, deprivation and so much more In group I left all the burden and joy fill my backpack with tools and projects, wanting to follow poque after a cancer diagnosis, I realized that if you can! ---------------
One of my companions in the group psychotherapy of the Hospital Ramos Mejia made this wish, and that gives me a reflection. I will talk about is a reflection and resonances for me, in particular, gave me that phrase. The overall philosophy of Bet to life, if not misunderstood, argues that psychological factors might be rather involved in the psycho-awakening, to put it metaphorically, the oncogene of the disease. Factors sick of our daily lives that suddenly make it easy for the enemy. Qu words when you get the bad news or diagnosis of cancer must be revised, as well as get treatment, what their living conditions facilitated the process of relationship. So, these are not "back" to anything, as my partner wanted, but to review what is or was sick in my links with others, family, friends, superiors or subordinates at work, etc.. and, clearly, that inevitably led me to wonder how much disease is traveling on what we call our "normal" life. Have we accepted as normal as they cut the news, radio or television broadcast of what's happening in the world and in our own country? Is it normal for a medium like TV, which should serve society, of us all, just talk about herself and become for example, in a matter of discussion, the intimacies of a couple of fools anyone? Is it normal to sell a new car is needed to degrade a young, topless or show a little more, crouching with his back? Is it normal that the same means as influential movie scenes were broadcast schedule reserved for child protection throughout the day and are, of course, scenes that are most likely to disrupt, for different reasons to the children? Is it normal that 40% of our population live in shanty conditions, crowded into low-lying areas, real neighborhood without running water or sewage system, and in the worst living conditions promiscuous? I could go and bring you all the more alarming data about our "normal." But the dilemma for patients who accept as valid the petition of Bet, I think, is another. How to make this "normalcy" we do not invade and contaminate us, how sever impositions and mandates that oppress our lives without, in many cases, we have noticed that we passed. When I reached the group, the first thing I told, if I remember correctly, is that I was waiting for "me" cancer, because the paternal side of my family has been the leading cause of death and I, consciously or not, expected. So I would say that getting cancer was not betray them. One of the coordinators wrote a phrase that should banish from our lives. The rise up and say "Today I have to ..." or some of its variants. To survive in this hostile environment to which I mentioned earlier, we are forced to comply with schedules, deadlines, requirements of all kinds. Now, I admit, every time the phrase comes to my mind, and not a few, I try to banish or at least see how I can minimize it, get pressure, deflate it. Cancer is another thing I learned in-and I bet I teach or taught, I try to learn as much as I can, "it means a second chance to rectify it" normally "were living until the day of sick. Of course, one mechanically associated with cancer death or at least shortened life term. In that sense, I had a similar announcement 25 years ago, when appendicitis reached this level of infection without being registered, safe because my life was devoted to "normal", which reached the liver germs, I wound sepsis and a month in hospital in intensive care. And almost died. The trance helped me change many things in my life, trying to be where I wanted to be, not where it was obliged to break with many "normal" activities that meet daily. Today I suspect that perhaps I could destroy all the "normalcy" in which he was immersed. In short, behind what I said my big question looms of how find the balance between knowing what the community accepts as "normal" and what makes us sick of the normal which is not easy. Clearly, however, that the announcement of any serious illness, like cancer, is also announcing that something is broken in our social life. The challenge is to detect and remove it, never to surrender his hands and feet tied to what is often called "normal life". ------------
Eight years after diagnosis of cancer. NHL, at that time I had an operation nine months of chemotherapy. Throughout this time, accompanied me and held meetings with fellow professionals and Bet to Life. Thanks to those who taught me that cancer is cured. Thanks to those who told me that after cancer is a new life, with hopes, joys and projects. Do not go down the arms, can be Let us work to prevent relapses, eliminate risk factors, we care every minute of our defenses, we value what we have, not mourn what is lost. Thanks again, the professionals who serve us, science progresses by the day. Thanks to Silvia for creating this foundation that allowed to nest in my conviction that this cancer cure is possible. The controls follow regularly and assistance to the group as well, because this is the way to health. ---------------
Graciela Polack It all started in July 2006. After having constant bleeding, ultrasound, endometrial polyps detected prepared me for a biopsy at this point or crosses my head results. However, the doctor tells me: "mrs. It will be operated on again and after surgery to "consult with an oncologist. At that time froze, did not understand, with great anguish thinking about my children, my husband and my death. I could not get out of those thoughts, I wondered and wondered, how can it be that at age 49, half life ahead, I may have cancer? Days passed in October, I had surgery. Everything went well, I had a hysterectomy. When I high, Dr. He said: "He does everything he tells you the oncologist in treatment." That was all I had inside me but I was missing something ... All my family gave me encouragement, as I looked and saw meant nothing to me, saw the anguish in them ... and I asked myself: "If I gave everything right, my recovery is excellent, then what's wrong?" . I decided I must do something more, to understand this disease, so we can assist and help. One day a person very dear to me about a neighborhood newspaper, which leaves a note with the title, "Bet to Life." Upon reading it I felt so well reflected in his words that I decided to call: They proved to be a group of cancer patients where they met every Thursday. I had a receipt so kind and understanding, from my colleagues and Dr. Silvia. In the group listen carefully, you understand, and helps those who attended .... We all know that we talk when we have cancer. From then on they start work, What are the risk factors that help trigger the disease. They're amazing things we discover. Dr Silvia garsd helps us, and tells us that after cancer is a before and after. We make changes in our lives. We are actors, but sometimes we make decisions and execute cost us! But nothing is impossible. ¿Si se puede! And I tell you something, am I happy! In April because I just turned my early years! If we could you also! -------------
My name is Higinio stopped in May 2006, I was hospitalized for a bleeding ulcer, which made this very anemic, so I was given many blood transfusions. On May 15 I underwent surgery, at first I was diagnosed with diverticula in the duodenum. It was a very important and risky operation. They took part of the stomach and spent several days connected to a tube, eating only liquids. I was hard to recover and return to tolerate food. Meanwhile the doctors told us my family and me, who had been sent to analyze the sample of the diverticulum that I had extracted. After a few weeks came the news: they had detected was a kind of cancer that grows in soft tissues, called GIST. When I found out I was depressed a lot, I fear and anguish. I went home after forty days in hospital, but I kept thinking about what I had said. I did not feel anything. My wife and daughter insisted on seeking a support group in order to make a kind of therapy to be better, because the mood was not going to help in recovery. This is how my sister, Silvia Peralta, who works in the guard's Hosp. Ramos Mejia, worked there informed me that a group called, "Bet to Life", directed by Dr. Silvia Garsd, for cancer patients and their families. Both insisted that a Saturday I went with her and my wife, afraid and ashamed, because I knew that I would find. But little by little I was integrating and recovering, thanks not only to Dr. Silvia, but also to Ms. Anna Goldfarb, who is also attending the sick, the next of kin. Today, after nearly two years, that cancer was detected and having made appropriate treatments, I can say that the last scan not detected traces of macroscopic malignancy. Log APOSTAR A LA VIDA helped me a lot, but I felt no anxiety or fear. Never missed a meeting, I am very happy and glad I found this place where I feel so comfortable with the whole group. ------------- Leonor Nieves (Carozo) The patient has the most powerful healing drug In the media: television, radio, magazines, newspapers, talk about terminal illness, the terminally ill, we know that refer to cancer but naming Beware! ... Up in movies the actors or a secondary character Cancer has always wrong and sometimes rarely cured. These media do not have learned that cancer can be detected when there are no symptoms? The warnings are not limited to pap smears, mammograms or PSA. In his meetings with doctors performed Bet talking about all the progress to discover the disease in its early ... these medical advances would be disclosed in the media constantly ... If the cancer is a terminal illness I would not be here today ... I had cancer three times: first in 1968 gynecological, in 1992 the second of the colon and the third in 1994, a skin carcinoma in the face. In all three went to surgery and from that first operation (and spent 40 years) have never ceased to conduct regular checks, which are not a sacrifice but a benefit, I am cured, but not only for the controls; cured me give you a sense my life, I had to heal for my children, my husband, my brothers, my whole family, but more than anything for me. The medicine did much better but the job was mine ... In the last cancer was already in Gambling, and found the elements to make it happen, I learned that good emotional states, changes in attitude, high self-esteem, help as much as medical treatment . The patient has the most powerful healing drug. Bet taught me to live without anxiety, no stress. Reasons for these states are not lacking, with Silvia learn how to handle them, we help each other and to help spend it too, that because we have difficult situations ... there is loss of loved ones that give reason for sadness. Neurologist and psychiatrist Viktor Frankl survived the Nazi concentration camp wrote about the plight in which he lived at that time: "No matter how adverse the circumstances before us we all have a responsibility to live. " I bet to live and a little over three years, won with the birth of my little grandson Joaquin I assure you that for me there is no physician like watching him play, laugh, talk baby talk with their delicious and listen to me read: Abu let's play! . So I do not regret this choice: Bet to win the battle allowed me to overcome the disease and enjoy those little things that make me happier. ------------- Lía Noemí Bravo When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I thought I died and cried until no more tears now. I was wondering ... .. again and again ... ... why me? Then I met APOSTAR A LA VIDA. The pucha!! Bet that if life is like being in the arms of my mother, I could cope with the strength of my classmates who helped me get my own strength, knowing that each is a mirror of life which I reflection. Dr. Silvia with his love and wisdom teaches me to be a gladiator, to continue betting to life. -------------- Nilda Redruello The emergence of a left breast lump do consult with my gynecologist (Dr. Hilda Gonzalez) and then the corresponding study found that the result was malignant. This occurred in May 2006. A first biopsy performed at the Hospital de La Plata Rossi confirms the diagnosis and surgery is performed in the month of September. After the operation and to visit the oncologist (Dr.Pelatti) I made a series of analysis and verification in order to start with chemotherapy and that's where I announced that should make a new surgery to remove the entire left breast. as the first intervention was not well done. Passage through this new intervention, and now you start chemotherapy treatment for 6 months. All events described above led to need psychological help, both psychic and physical appearance, timely support which was suggested by my oncologist This brings me to APOSTAR A LA VIDA This brings me, thank God with all his hopes in the Group APOSTAR A LA VIDA, (Silvia, Ethel, Gabriela) The talks come forth the various causes leading to that node appears my body: stress, anxiety caused by various family conflicts, work, etc.etc., Which led me to have cancer. APOSTAR A LA VIDA is my lifeline. With the medical and psychological help can be cured. But it is obvious that the patient must be honest to the Group, therefore, to the disease we are all equal. Upon seeing my children suffer and grandchildren could not find the right path. I was deteriorating day by day and did not want to live anymore. APOSTAR A LA VIDA me and makes me feel great after each session. My ideas are clarified, counseling, containment and my desire to live JOIN ---------------- Tere Recalde What was coming? I am the Tere Recalde, I had breast cancer. Forecast: six months. Two years ago I came to this meeting and this place. I sat in the back seat with fear, distrust, with great anxiety. I was not sure what was coming Aa I started listening, scientific, medical chat, testimonials. Atodos or went wrong with them as I do. Dry mouth, cloudy eyes, sore feet, unable to hold urine and the worst that can happen to a woman: Pelada Time passed, I began to straighten up on the seat, my ears and my eyes would not lose anything. I went several times to fresh air in the river, wet with the rain and cold gray day. I opened my arms and say I'm alive. Every time I went I saw a light, more strength, hope, glowing with the present. That light, the force began to take effect on me. I do not care about the pain in the body, old shoes, not having hair. Many times I missed the road to reach the goals. But this time I was right to enter the Bet to Life Group. Two years passed, I lack a lot to learn, much to forget, I need a lot to forgive. Betting on Life filosofíade shows me her life. I know that with all of you by my side I can get to the finish "LIVE" to achieve the goal of light and happiness. --------------
In June 1995 I was diagnosed with CML, it was very difficult to cope, I felt that everything that until then had been perfect, derrumbaba.La great question, "was all so perfect? ... Why was I so sick? ... If I was I was dying and the less I thought about was me. At diagnosis was followed by days of uncertainty, many doctors, many studies, to be sure that with cancer dies. Depression, anxiety, fear of not knowing who provided me with all this. I wanted everyone to change, because I was the poor who had fallen ill. On the big day ... so I think it was one of the happiest of my life, I see now in the distance, in a television group patients were invited APOSTAR A LA VIDA, people talking about cancer and not crying not complained, they were not afraid. On the Day that the group was among three other patients with leukemia, when I was introduced I could not believe they were alive several years ago ... I learned that they were people with a disease called cancer, cancers that were not walking like me ... that cancer had not psychic ... I learned that the only one who had to produce and sustain the changes I was, I got sick for the absence of NO, in my vocabulary, word so small yet so valuable. From that day everything was better, was hard to face myself, but I did it, so to achieve the desired changes, my friends held me in tough times of treatment, interferon, bone marrow transplant, but again aracitín interferon, Dr. Silvia made me notice things that I could not handle and unconsciously hiding. In my recovery was very important to group psychotherapy, without it there would have gone ahead, because at that place ... poor thing nobody told me you have cancer and slapped me back ... I patted his back and told me later you can not. In 2000 a protocol between Glivec, was not easy, but not impossible, I put all my energy into this treatment, because after all .... after so many years the science work for me, giving me a unique medication. Now leukemia would not be a chronic disease, within 1 year I was in cytogenetic and molecular remission. Today, I continue in my group, as coordinator, getting new patients, encouraging them, telling them that I can, that they too can, that we are the protagonists of this story, not on a bed awaiting death, which they stand, to fight for this precious life is. As no attempt to explain, I only remember my forty-odd kilos, how come the service of Durand Hospital clinic, a doctor who signed a paper, watch the service and my pain than anyone thought, the parade of doctors and practitioners. Will AIDS be a kidney stone and will be in as many days lost thirty kilos, seeing death roommates, my little children with bright eyes and great pain. A diagnosis that never came, no one was saying. How not to tell of that loneliness, that no future, begging for painkillers, overalls morning, repeated questioning, countless doubts and fears. A doctor of old coat, his name erased trying to explain the inexplicable, and as she ran away toward the door, I could ask you doctor what your specialty? Of course many words without saying "I'm oncologist - answer without being able to look into my eyes. Oncologist, cancer, the agony of my grandparents, so many, the dad's cancer that sentence that we recorded in the murmur of aunts, dodging glances, whispered voices, all the dialogues become redundant, in hopes hollow, while a few friends are witches, alternative, weevils, magical treatments. But the pain and loneliness are the only reality, anger In this therapy without protocols, but in real life and consistent, that waiting room waiting and not those patients with no patience, Si Se Puede crazy, crazy love of life. As not tell already spent ten years. --------------
Silvia's when I said "Did you get to thinking what it means again?" Good morning. Saying 'Again' for us means:
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