Manila, April 18 -- When 66-year-old widow Gertrudes Calderon was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer in May 2013, she feared the treatment costs more than what the disease will do to her body.
Calderon, at that time, works as "kasambahay" -- her only source of income for their daily needs.
"Natakot ako noong una kong nalaman dahil sa aming anim na magkakapatid na babae ako lang ang meron. Nagkusa lang ako magpa-checkup nung nakapa ko na may bukol at mula sa maliit na bukol. Lumaki na ito pagdating ng Hunyo (I was scared when I first learned about it because among us six sisters I'm the only one who has it. I went to have a checkup when I felt a lump in my breast and from a small lump. It became bigger in June), she told Philippine News ...