Cancer-stricken Fil-Am nurse continues journey in life with triathlon

Filipino-American nurse Jonathan Pascual has been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, but that does not stop him from continuing his journey in life.

"Mediastinal paraganglioma, stage 4 na po siya dahil 'yung cancer na malapit dito sa puso ko ay kumalat na sa baga ko pati na sa mga buto ko, mula ulo hangang dito sa legs ko," Pascual explained in Raffy Tima's 24 Oras report which aired on Wednesday.

Pascual was diagnosed with cancer back in March 2022, fifteen years after he had a brain tumor.

With his condition, his back had a fracture and he needed to undergo the knife to treat it.

While he said that there is no treatment for his condition, he undergoes therapy to manage it.

On top of it, a big help also for Pascual is his sport triathlon which instilled in him discipline as he has trained for it for almost 20 years already.

After his back surgery, Pascual joined an ultra marathon and from there, he decided to join the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii which he has been dreaming even before he got sick.

Pascual was aware of how his condition could make the race difficult for him. However, that did not stop him from finishing the race.

"Dahil nga po naba- block ng mga tumor... lumalaki 'yung ulo ko, yung leeg ko, pati dila ko lumalaki kaya lalo akong nahihirapan huminga,” Pascual said about the 3.8 kilometer swim. 

"Pagdating ko dun sa shore, I said just focus on your breathing and catch your breath...  I heard the announcer say I had two minutes to spare. Napaiyak po ako kasi dahil I realized that I now have the chance to get on to the bike and on to the run... I knew that I could do it.”

His family also supported him during the race.

"Your family is at the very end of that line, so that's what I was looking for... thank God that’s exactly what happened, they were there.”

Pascual said he will still join races to strengthen his body and give inspiration to others.

"There is always something that you can do for yourself and others however difficult your life circumstances maybe. It has given me this new life of giving this message of hope," he said.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News