3 times a survivor! This is my story.

By: Sara Garibay

I have had cancer 3 times.

The first time in the uterus and an ovary. That was 26 years ago. I was the Programming Director of channel 22 KWHY. I had bleeding and abdominal pain. They removed my uterus and left ovary, and 15 days later I was already working. This time they did not give me any chemotherapy treatment.

Three years later my nipples were itchy and sometimes they would bleed. This was the second time the cancer was reactivated.

The doctors only had an hour and a half to operate on me because when they removed my uterus the surgery lasted 6 hours and I reacted very badly to the anesthesia. They were afraid that I would not resist so they harpooned my left breast (they propped up the tumor with needles and took x-rays after each needle to surround the tumor, without anesthesia, thank God the tumor was encapsulated).

On this occasion, they gave me 4 chemotherapies. Between chemoes, I went to my sister’s bakery and learned how to make bread. At that time, I was not working, nor did I have insurance.

I returned to Los Angeles and since I didn’t have a job, I started making bread.

From programming director to becoming a baker, that’s life.

Years later I returned to channel 22 but I resigned for personal reasons.

I founded Zarzuela USA with other friends and during some recordings in Tijuana, I felt like a little lump where I had had cancer before. They did tests on me, and they came out positive. I had 8 tumors, again with chemo, I did not accept the radiation, but I never gave up on my project. So, that was the third time.

Being always busy is one of the best medicines, I walk every day, I eat fruit and vegetables, and I have a shot or two of tequila.

Since I am BRCA 2 positive, I will have cancer until the last day of my life, but I keep the beast asleep with Letrozole 2.5, which is a chemo pill.

Wanting to live, and being busy helps me survive and enjoy each day.

My philosophy is: “He who does not live to serve does not serve to live.”

Today, Zarzuela USA is a reflection of my feelings.