by Bess Livioco
September 23, 2023
Bess was scared after getting her second cancer diagnosis. Her family was devastated too. But by finding the right treatment, she managed to overcome cancer. Bess performed in our HIPEC Awareness Talent Show in Baltimore during September 2023. This is her story.
Full Transcript (edited):
My name is Bess Livioco and I am originally from the Philippines and then I moved here and now live in North Potomac, Maryland.
My abdominal cancer was diagnosed in February of 2021. It's an appendiceal cancer. I just was frozen. I was scared and all I said was, "I don't know what to say." My family was actually shocked too when they found out I had cancer. That was my second cancer, my first was cervical. But when they found out I had cancer again, my family was devastated, more so than I was actually.
Doctor Sardi's effect and this HIPEC procedure on me is amazing. It's like I didn't even get sick at all. Life today after HIPEC, unbelievable. Life today, it's like I didn't even get sick.
The talent I'll be performing today is I'm gonna sing. My son who plays in a band, he's gonna do the guitar and my grandson is going to do the cajon. So the three of us are going to perform. This talent of mine, which the Lord gave, of course, I've been singing since I was a kid. We would sing in churches, especially my siblings. With my siblings, we would always blend. We have second, third voices, and ever since I was a kid, five, six, until now I'm singing in church. So I've had it all this time and I would like to share it for the glory of God and share this with you too.
If you have been diagnosed with [appendix/colorectal/etc] cancer, please review our resource pfccap.org. If you'd like to connect with our Patient and Caregiver Network, please email networkcoordinator@pfccap.org.