April Perreras: In Motion, She Found Her Strength

The cancer survivor and mom of two shares how exercise became her medicine — and how she’s helping others find their strength, too

April Perreras still remembers the moment her world changed when she got the test results. She was 39 at that time.

“My husband was with me when we got the results, so he found out at the same moment I did,” she recalled about her breast cancer diagnosis. “I could see the pain in his eyes, but he stayed strong for me.”

Now a survivor, April tells Modern Parenting how movement became her motivation and led her to become a CETI Cancer Exercise Specialist.

Diagnosis and Devastation

Seeing the words carcinoma and invasive on her test results devastated April.

“I remember my hands shaking as I cried and showed my husband the results. I crumbled right there… it felt like our world fell apart in an instant. I was in complete disbelief. You never really think it can happen to you… until it does.”

Her husband, Duanne, assured her they would get through it together. The next step was telling their two daughters, then 10 and 5.

Healing as a Family

April first spoke with her eldest.

“I explained that the ‘booboo’ taken out of my breast had cancer. She knew what cancer meant because my eldest brother battled it in 2020, so she immediately cried and became scared for me,” she said. “I assured her that I was going to be okay, that Mommy just needed to be in the hospital often because the doctors would help me get better.”

She made sure to include her daughters in her journey — explaining surgeries and treatments, and letting them help in small but meaningful ways.

“They helped me with chores, comforted me, and saw me fight. They saw their daddy give me baths and help me get dressed,” she shared.

Through it all, it was teamwork, says April. “We truly worked as a team, and in the middle of all that pain, there was something so beautiful about how it brought us even closer together.”

But the struggle wasn’t just physical.

“Some days I’d wake up feeling strong, ready to fight, and other days I’d feel like I just couldn’t do it anymore. The physical pain was one thing, but the emotional toll — the fear, the uncertainty, the loss of control — was something else entirely,” she said.

“What really helped was allowing myself to feel everything. I didn’t try to be brave all the time. I cried when I needed to, rested when I had to, and leaned heavily on my faith and my support system.”

That support extended beyond family to a sisterhood she calls her “breast friends” from the Better Days Wellbeing Center, led by Charity Marohombsar, where she is now an active member and mentor.

“Talking to them made me feel seen and understood in ways only fellow survivors could,” she said.

Her daughters, too, grew from the experience. “They became more compassionate, more mature, and more grateful for the little things. They saw me at my weakest, but they also saw me fight my way back. I think it taught them that strength isn’t about never falling — it’s about standing back up, again and again.”

Even during treatment, April remained intentional about motherhood. “They saw me face cancer head-on, and I used that time to teach them the value of exercise and caring for our bodies,” she said. “I want them to grow up strong, informed, and unafraid — knowing that health is something we can nurture every day.”

Finding Purpose in Helping Others

Amid the emotional rollercoaster, April found a silver lining: movement as medicine.

“At first, it was hard — even lifting my arms after surgery felt impossible,” she recalled. “But I took it one day at a time. Slowly, I started doing gentle exercises to regain my strength and mobility. As I moved more, I began to feel more like myself again.”

Exercising didn’t just heal her body — it restored her sense of control. Inspired by her recovery, she became certified as a CETI Cancer Exercise Specialist.

Today, she designs safe, personalized exercise programs for patients and survivors. “The goal is to help them move better, feel stronger, and improve their overall quality of life,” she said.

“Exercise plays a vital role in a cancer patient’s journey. It helps reduce fatigue, rebuild muscle mass lost from treatments, improve mood, support lymphatic flow, and even decrease the risk of recurrence. But beyond the physical benefits, movement gives survivors a sense of control — it empowers them to reconnect with their bodies and believe in their strength again.”

Aside from this role, April is also a Vodder-Certified Lymphedema Therapist. Lymphedema, she explains, is a common but often overlooked side effect of breast cancer.

“I educate and guide survivors on how to prevent or manage it through early detection, manual lymphatic drainage, proper skincare, and safe movement,” she said. “While lymphedema can’t always be cured, it can absolutely be controlled — and that knowledge gives women back their confidence and freedom.”

It’s something close to her heart, she said. “Being able to help others feel comfortable in their bodies again — to move without fear — is one of the most fulfilling parts of what I do.”

A Message of Hope

Hearing the word mastectomy can be traumatizing for many women. April went through it herself and now makes it her mission to empower others after surgery.

“Over time, I learned to see my scars differently. They became symbols of survival and strength. I started embracing my ‘foobs’ with gratitude because they remind me that I chose life,” she said.

“When I speak to women who are about to undergo or have gone through a mastectomy, I always tell them: you are still whole, you are still beautiful, and you are still you.”

This November, April will join other women at the Cancer Thrivers Summit, focusing on the future of cancer care.

“Events like the Cancer Summit are so important because they bring together different voices — from prevention and treatment to survivorship and quality of life,” she said. “For too long, cancer care has been fragmented. The goal is to bridge that gap and treat the patient as a whole — not just the disease.”

You’re Not Alone

If there’s one message April always shares, it’s that strength is built through persistence and faith.

“It’s okay to break down, to rest, and to not be okay all the time. Healing isn’t linear. What matters is that you keep choosing to fight, one day at a time,” she said.

Her heart also goes out to the caregivers and “lovegivers” who stand beside patients.

“You are the anchor that keeps everything steady when the patient’s world feels like it’s crumbling down,” she said. “But remember to care for yourself, too. When you take care of your own well-being, you can give more love, patience, and strength to the person you’re supporting.”

For April, advocacy means community. “When we empower lovegivers, we also empower patients,” she said. “Recovery is never solitary — it’s built on love, understanding, and the courage to move forward together.”

The Cancer Thrivers Summit happens on November 14 at the Blue Leaf Events Pavilion in Taguig. For more information, check out the Better Days Wellbeing Center on Instagram and Facebook.

More on breast cancer and the story of survivors

Stand Up, Speak Out: Why Every Breast Cancer Journey Deserves a Voice
WATCH: Stories of Hope And Change After Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Celine Cornejo: Remaining Positive Amidst The Challenge