My name is Rowena Decena and I organized this fundraising plea in behalf of my cousin Rosalyn Decena Terrado, a 42-year-old, single, female and the breadwinner for her family. Rosalyn had a long-term mole on her right leg but in June 2025 she started to notice some pain near her mole and has noted that she has a noticeable lump at the back of her right knee. This prompted her to consult a doctor. After some tests including a CT scan, an MRI and a biopsy she was shocked to learn that she was suffering from a stage 3 melanoma (skin cancer).

Rosalyn’s oncology doctor recommended 35 cycles of immunotherapy every 21 days as her treatment regimen. She started her first session of 200mg – Keytruda (pembrolizumab) in July 15, 2025 and had 4 sessions thus far. The last immunotherapy session she received was in September 17, 2025. Rosalyn was only able to afford 4 sessions and she had to stop treatment secondary to not having enough financial support. The immunotherapy treatment is very expensive in the Philippines and all the other tests and procedures required does cost a lot of money. After Philhealth (Philippines partial health insurance support) deductions, Rosalyn has to pay Php. 70,368.12 out of pocket per treatment session.

After being diagnosed with cancer in the summer, Rosalyn was unable to continue working making it impossible for her to afford her succeeding immunotherapy sessions. She is the youngest in the family and the only daughter supporting her elderly mother. Her father passed away a couple of years ago. She has older brothers but each has their own families to support and each of her brother are also struggling to make ends meet making it impossible for her siblings to help her out financially. Rosalyn attempted to reach out to local charities including local politicians, government agencies and non-government organizations for financial support but none can commit to helping her with the huge amount she needs to continue her treatment regimen. Secondary to this financial incapacity, she cannot continue with her immunotherapy treatment in the last two months. When her physician asked her to do follow up testing it was noted that her cancer is getting worse. The lump behind her knee has now increased form 6 mm to 10 mm and she was told by her oncologist that the cancer is now spread to her lungs, liver, and spine. She also met with an orthopedic surgeon and that their recommendation is for her to consider above the knee amputation of her right leg. The doctor told her that the lump is too close to her blood vessels and that scraping it off is no longer a feasible solution.

Just a little bit more information about Rosalyn, she is a good person, a loving daughter, a supportive sister and a good friend to many. Due to poverty, she went to the capital city Manila after finishing high school, to look for a job. She has worked in multiple places just so she can send money back home to help her family. She remained unmarried as she forgot to focus on herself while keeping busy with trying to financially support her parents and her brothers.

Any amount you contribute, no matter how small, will all go toward her medical treatments and urgent care needs with the hope of extending her life.

We really appreciate your kindness and we pray that the Lord Almighty will bless you and your family abundantly.