Spotlight

Keri Zamora: Finding the Light Against All Odds

As she celebrates her 6th year as a breast cancer thriver this February 2025, Keri Zamora wishes to spread awareness with the hopes of helping other mothers and their families going through the same journey

Keri Zamora: Modern Parenting's October 2024 Digital Cover
Top and Pants by Rajo Laurel

Hearing a loved one being diagnosed with breast cancer is a complex mix of emotions. Facing the possible reality where they lose the battle, the financial and logistical strains due to treatment, the fear of the unknown, and what happens to loved ones left behind after death — all these and the horror stories regarding chemotherapy do nothing to soothe the anxiety. So for Keri Zamora to find out at 39 years old, that she had the same diagnosis as her mother (who happened to be diagnosed 12 weeks prior) felt like it was the end of the world.

“At that time, I thought cancer meant immediate death. I believed I was at my healthiest, working out daily and eating well, so why was I being given a death sentence,” she questioned.

Mortality was now a reality

While being the second in the family (with the first being her mom) to receive such a diagnosis fuelled the denial. The reality of Keri’s diagnosis was quickly confirmed after finding a lump in her breast during a self-examination in the gym, which prompted her to get a mammogram. However, the weight of the diagnosis only became more difficult to bear when she learned more about her predicament. What she believed to be only Stage 1 breast cancer was actually Stage 3C hormone-positive, HER2-negative – which according to Keri’s oncologist, was only “one step away” from becoming the dreaded Stage 4.

When her husband heard the news, he did the one thing she knew he had not done in a long time: he broke down. How then would she break the news to her four children, who were then aged 18, 15, 9, and 6? How about her mother who was going through the same uphill battle with her own cancer diagnosis? While her older sister handled breaking the news to their mother, Keri mustered up the courage to inform her children. There was no point in sugarcoating the news, she recalls.

Shirt and Jeans by Marks and Spencer

“I felt guilty about the idea of burdening them with my sickness,” she admits. “But I wanted them to be prepared for what lies ahead. Being honest with them about it would help me focus on healing and getting better, rather than carrying around the guilt of keeping this from them. I wanted to tell them the truth, and what the best and worst case scenarios could be. But I definitely assured them that I was doing my best to get better.”

When it came to her eldest daughter Amanda, she felt that being candid mattered because they were especially close and she was the only girl. With no prior family history of breast cancer to fall back on, Keri realized then that Amanda was at a high risk seeing how both she and her mother got it. “Currently, she goes for a bi-yearly sonogram because she’s now 23.”

The battle has just begun

While breaking the news about her breast cancer diagnosis was hard, the battle ahead would prove to be more difficult. Once Keri had her unilateral mastectomy (the removal of one of her breasts), a hysterectomy followed since the cancer only worsened so long as her body produced estrogen. But the removal of those didn’t hit her as hard as watching her thick hair being shaved off. “It was so hard to lose it,” she admits. 

“I was known for my hair being so thick and healthy and losing it all was the first physical manifestation that I had a life threatening illness. The lady shaving my hair ended up crying more than I did,” she recalls.

The pile of fallen locks would then be the prologue for the next battle: chemotherapy. With three different drugs every twenty-one days for the next six cycles, Keri and her husband, Francis, knew they were in for a roller coaster for the next six months. “After the chemo, I’m down and depressed but on the second day, my mood starts to pick up when my strength would come back.”

Besides having chemo, she also had to be more conscious of her diet and health decisions. Eating right, and drinking more fruit juices like a Spinach and Kale concoction (which she admitted to not being too keen about at first) — those are just some of the concrete steps she had to take to literally to fight for her life.

Gratitude was her fuel

Like all forms of cancer, breast cancer is a battle for both body, mind, and yes, the spirit. Although Keri’s body was worn down from both the chemotherapy and radiation, she reveals a mantra that’s kept her strong. “Pray, hope and don’t worry — it was one of Padre Pio’s sayings,” she reveals. “It took a while for me to realize that worrying makes me unproductive and won’t change anything anyway.”

Gratitude had become her fuel as she completed her treatments without any delays and even had enough strength to go on a Thanksgiving trip with her mom and sister to Lourdes, France. Through her darkest days, the only thing she could ever cling on to was prayer and her faith. She prayed the rosary multiple times a day. It allowed her to forge a deep longing and knowing of her soul through our Creator. Surviving a tough battle with not just one, but two members of her family afflicted with breast cancer, is a memory Keri Zamora holds close to her heart.

Shirt and Jeans by Marks and Spencer

“We spent five full days, thanking God and Mama Mary for being with us through this very tough journey,” Keri elaborates. “When one gets diagnosed with cancer, it not only affects the patient but the whole family and your loved ones.”

What Science does for the body, prayer does for the mind and soul. Each day she wakes, Keri reveals that she offers a prayer of gratitude knowing that breast cancer humbled her and taught her many life lessons, and the most important one of all being: Nothing else in this world matters except for family and loved ones. Everything else is just fluff.

The Aftermath: From Surviving, Now Thriving

Today, Keri is just living in the moment, taking everything one day at a time. She learned to pick her battles and realized that most of them are not even worth her time nor her attention.

She elaborates, “When things don’t go my way, I just pray and I trust that everything is as it should be. So long as I’m still here, alive and able to spend time with my family, everything else is an added bonus. With my kids, I’ve taught myself to be a little more lenient — to let them make mistakes every so often, and let them learn from it.”

Dress by Marks and Spencer

“I still continue to pray the rosary everyday. It’s like some sort of meditation,” she elaborates. “It’s my time to reflect and simply just be.”

Although her mother lost her battle to cancer last year, Keri remains steadfast and holds her mom’s reminders close to her heart, “Hope and have faith that everything will be okay.”

Support for Breast Cancer Patients 

Keri takes the campaign against breast cancer, the second deadliest of all cancers, one step further through her Caring Keri Foundation. As its program director, she spreads awareness through campaigns and programs aimed to teach women (even the young ones) to do self-examination, educating them about early detection, and uplifting women who have been diagnosed. Aside from helping with their treatments, they are also able to provide support.

While many are quick to offer a helping hand, not all actions may be received kindly. As someone who preferred “doing things by herself” and disliked “burdening others,” Keri shared that sometimes “giving them [those afflicted with breast cancer] space” and simply “being there” helps.

Top and Pants by Rajo Laurel

“Some would rather keep it to themselves first,” Keri elaborates. “But that doesn’t mean not being there and providing when you can. And perhaps as women, especially us mothers, we should listen more.”

For all the mothers out there who have been diagnosed, Keri says “Do not lose hope. I thought at first that cancer was my death sentence. Luckily and as God willed it, I am celebrating my sixth year as a “cancer thriver” this upcoming February 2025. I don’t particularly like the word “survivor.” This disease may seem isolating, but know that you are not alone. There are other mothers and other women like us on this journey. You will meet other warriors and they will become your friends, they will get you and they will understand every single thing you are going through. I found a support group, and they will always be my treasured friends.”

“Draw strength from your loved ones and be open to asking for help and accepting help when offered. Get a second opinion if you have any doubts. Keep busy by doing the things that make you happy and do everything at your own pace,” she suggests.

On the days the healing doesn’t seem to work or things don’t look up, patience and faith are much-needed virtues. “It is so important for you not to compare your progress or your journey with others,” she says. “We may share the same diagnoses, be on the same treatments and medications, but at the end of the day, we are all different and will respond in varied manners.”

“Last but not least, avoid things that will make you feel down or fearful. If it won’t help your healing, then forget about it,” Keri chuckles. “Just seek spiritual sustenance, then focus on you, your loved ones and getting better.”

If you would like to seek help from the Caring Keri Foundation for yourself or a loved one, you may contact them here: (0917) 162 8132. Please look for Anjaneth.

CREDITS

Words KEVYN GOHU-CATINGUB
Photography KIERAN PUNAY OF KLIQ, INC.
Art Direction DENIELLE CARAG
Makeup TWINKLE BERNARDO
Hairstyling ANGELI ALFONSO
Styling SIYA DARYANI OF THE CLOSET CULTURE
Shoot Coordination ANTHONY MENDOZA
Sittings Editor MARGA MEDRANO-TUPAZ

Shot on Location at OPULENCE SHOWROOM, GREENHILLS

Special thanks to SAFFRON PLATES

More about stories about breast cancer?

Why We Celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October
The Pink Ball: A Charity Gala To Fight Breast Cancer
Pink Ribbon Pride: Breast Cancer Survival Stories

Shop for Modern Parenting's print issues through these platforms.
Download this month's Modern Parenting magazine digital copy from:
Subscribe via [email protected]