Olive Lamasan opens up about her battle with breast cancer

In honor of Cancer Awareness day, acclaimed filmmaker and producer Olive Lamasan has opened up about her battle with breast cancer—not once, but twice.

As part of ICanServe Foundation’s Icons of Hope social media campaign, Lamasan shared her inspiring story as a cancer survivor, stating, "I am more than the illness."

Lamasan was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008 and faced a recurrence in 2022.

"My first bout with breast cancer was in 2008. The second one was in 2022. In both instances, I opted for mastectomy... (Through my cancer journey, I discovered) that I could love myself, that I could prioritize my needs, and that I am not indispensable," she shared.

Throughout her battle, Lamasan expressed gratitude to the people who stood by her, including her late friend and fellow filmmaker Marilou Diaz-Abaya, who also succumbed to cancer.

"I am very grateful to God for holding my hand and guiding me through moments of shock, fear, anger, regret, and then through moments of finding forgiveness, acceptance, love, healing, and in discovering and finding myself. Of course, there’s my beloved family and friends, whose love, presence, and prayers gave me invaluable strength and will to survive," she said.

She recalled how Diaz-Abaya played a crucial role in her journey.

"Director Marilou Diaz-Abaya brought me to doctors and experts and was with me through the entire process while she, herself, was going through her own journey of battling breast cancer."

Lamasan also found a deeper sense of purpose when she was introduced to ICanServe Foundation, a support group for women with breast cancer.

"My other guardian angel was Kara Alikpala. I barely knew her, but I got a text from her, then we met, and she introduced me to ICanServe — a world that made me feel that I am not alone; a world that made me realize that I am more than the illness; a world that gave my cancer a purpose."

Lamasan, a highly respected director at ABS-CBN, is known for her blockbuster films such as Got 2 Believe, Milan, Barcelona: A Love Untold, The Mistress, and Starting Over Again, among many others.

In 2024, she announced her much-awaited directorial comeback with Elena 1944, starring Kathryn Bernardo.