Patient makes ‘horn’ to celebrate end of chemotherapy – 03/25/2023 – Equilíbrio

“Last chemo! Honk!”

The words, written on the rear window of a car, make up the first image that appears in the video by Gleika Moya, published on TikTok, which has moved Internet users over the last few weeks.

The action, to commemorate the end of cancer treatment, has been a trend for some months now. Patients and their families organize a “honk call” to celebrate the last chemotherapy session and share the video recordings on social networks.

In the case of Gleika, the celebration was for her aunt, Marly, who is being treated for breast cancer. “My cousin and I saw a similar video right when we discovered the disease, we got emotional and commented that we were going to do it. She was counting the days to get to her mother’s last chemotherapy”, she says.

Maria Ignez Braghiroli, director of the Brazilian Society of Clinical Oncology, says that chemotherapy is a treatment usually done with intravenous medications, and that it can have different objectives in the treatment of cancer. “Finishing this step means that side effects should improve, such as nausea, tiredness, hair loss and a drop in immunity, for example”, she points out.

In some cases, the end of chemotherapy means the end of cancer treatment, but sometimes this step precedes other interventions, as is the case with Marly.

Despite her aunt’s treatment not being completed, as she still needs surgery, Gleika considers that the celebration was important to cheer her up and celebrate the end of one of the stages.

“It was much more emotional than we thought. We cried the whole way from Guarujá, [onde moramos], even Santos”, she reports. According to the pedagogue, people’s reaction was very positive. “With the repercussion of the video, we also realized that we are inspiring people. A lot of people have commented that they intend to do the same.”

Makeup artist Aline Xavier was also moved by celebrating her last chemotherapy session in the same way. The diagnosis of breast cancer came after stopping breastfeeding her daughter, aged one year and three months.

“I’m a digital influencer in my region and I decided to share all the processes with my followers, in order to show that cancer is not always a death sentence, it has treatment”, she says.

Aline claims, however, that the treatment is extremely difficult, especially the chemotherapy phase. “A lot of people don’t get over this phase.”

Still performing radiotherapy sessions, she considers that the end of chemotherapy was the greatest victory of the process. Today, Aline continues with the last stages of treatment and is getting ready to go back to work without hindrance.

“In the last session, I wanted to make the video, because I think it’s important to show people that it’s a reason to celebrate”, he says.

The motorcade was organized by the patient herself, along with her husband and other family members. “It was exciting.”