Today, October 19, 2026, I am writing this column in honor of all the women who have survived cancer, their families, and also those who bravely fought this disease until the very end.
For this column, I invited Gina Marcela Suárez Rojas (GMSR), a woman who will share her inspiring testimony about her experience as a cancer patient. This brave woman was born in Barranquilla 40 years ago, but has lived most of her life in Malambo, where she has distinguished herself through her work as a leader of an indigenous ethnic group in the territory.
She is the mother of three sons: Joseph, 19, in his sixth semester of philosophy; Emanuel, 15, in tenth grade; and Mateo, 12, who is in fifth grade.
I asked her what happened in her life after she received the diagnosis, to which she answered:
GMSR: “I was diagnosed in 2024. I received that email with the results on December 7. Can you imagine? It was a time for family, joy, and celebration, and receiving the results of that biopsy was a huge shock. I started crying, no one is prepared for news of a positive cancer diagnosis.”
“I spoke with several friends who are doctors, and they told me I was young and could get through it. My three children were right in front of me and heard everything. I looked at them and just thought ‘My God, help me. I want you to be with me. Give me the strength and resilience to face what’s coming,’ and that’s exactly how it’s been.”
For Gina, these past two years have changed her life in a positive way:
GMSR: “I used to see myself as too shy and fragile, but God has lifted me up in the midst of this crisis. It’s been a positive experience that has helped me grow spiritually. Breast cancer has transformed me into a woman who has kept fighting; I haven’t stopped despite the problems, because I know that as long as there is life, there is hope, and if there is hope, we have to take on the world, with God and with love.”
Before her diagnosis, Gina was studying administrative assistance, but this experience has sparked her desire to study psychology or law. She says she’s drawn to psychology because she feels that, through her experience, she has become an example for many women, who always ask her how she manages to endure chemotherapy.
GMSR: “The chemo has been the hardest part of my treatment, because it’s the ‘red’ kind, that is, the most aggressive. And maybe people think that since I seem to be doing ‘well,’ I’m not suffering because of it. However, my attitude is what has helped me, because I’ve been to urgent care three times, but my faith has strengthened me and allowed me to be an example for many women who aren’t necessarily going through this disease, but are facing some other hardships.”
All women are glamorous, some suffer more from losing their hair than from losing a breast. We asked Gina about her experience and, in the verge of tears, she told us how she managed to cope with this situation:
GMSR: “My first round of chemo was on December 23rd. The oncologist told me that my hair would fall out completely within 15 days, and that’s exactly what happened. One night, I was alone, and I shaved my head myself with an electric razor. It was hard, but I admit I’m proud of myself because I’ve had the bravery and courage to face not only cancer but also social stigma and intrusive questions like ‘Why are you bald?’ or ‘Why do you look ugly?’ Even though I had wigs, I said, ‘I’m not going to hide my identity; I’m going to go out bald, I’m not going to be tied down by wigs.’”
The same day she shaved her head, Gina posted a photo on her social media and, immediately, her phone wouldn’t stop ringing. The post surprised family and friends because they saw her like that out of the blue, and then knew what was going on.
Gina has undergone 11 rounds of chemotherapy to date. She is currently receiving a treatment that doesn’t cause hair loss or other side effects, and is awaiting the results of several studies so that her mastectomy can be scheduled.
Currently, she works with her foundation “Caminando con Dios” (Walking with God) and serves as an advisor to the Kaamash-hu Karibe ethnic group in Malambo, where she mentors indigenous women in the municipality and manages the community’s administrative affairs, advocating for rights to health care, housing, and education in collaboration with the Ministry of the Interior. All of this is aimed at improving the living conditions of this ethnic group.
We also asked her who has been by her side over the past two years:
GMRS: “My parents have been a great source of support. I have three siblings, we’re four in total, and I’m the only woman. I was in a relationship for almost four years, but we broke up a few months after I received the diagnosis. I don’t judge him, but he didn’t know how to handle the situation. Some very good new friends have been there for me, and I’ve been there for them, they’re the ones who accompany me to church today. The pastors have become my spiritual parents; I’m grateful to God for leading me to that church and for the fact that I’ve grown thanks to the faith He has given me.”
Finally, we asked her to send a message to all the women who have been through this same situation or who have a family member suffering from this disease:
GMRS: “Cancer didn’t stop me. Cancer transformed me, and just as God did for me, He can do the same for other women and men. That’s why I tell all those who reach out to me to have faith in God and trust in Him to keep going. He has a purpose for all of us, we just have to seek it out and thank Him so that He may fill us with His Spirit.”
Prevention is the most effective way to avoid cancer. That’s why it’s so important to perform self-exams, get a pap-smear every year, and consult your trusted doctor if you notice any physical changes in your breasts or anywhere else on your body.
Remember that cancer is a disease that, if detected early, can be cured. Don’t postpone it, check yourself and save your life.
Traducción del español: Catalina Oviedo Brugés
