Comedian Gil Morales, aka Ate Gay, opened up about her battle with cancer.
In a recent interview with Boy Abunda for Fast Talk, she recalled first noticing something unusual in March 2025.
"Actually, March pa lang last year, meron na akong mga ano dito, umoumbok [sa leeg ko]. Deadma lang, hindi ko pinansin. Hanggang sa 'yung mga kasama ko nakikita nila na iba na 'yung hugis ng mukha ko. Tapos nakita ni Allan K, sabi niya magpatingin ka na. Ayon, nagpatingin na ako," he recounted.
At first, she was told that the lump was benign, but she was later diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, specifically mucoepidermoid carcinoma.
Ate Gay revealed that she underwent 35 sessions of radiation therapy, done daily, excluding weekends, to help reduce the lump.
She also went through five cycles of chemotherapy. The comedian shared that chemotherapy took a toll on her body, particularly affecting her ability to eat due to mouth sores.
"Puro singaw kaya ang payat-payat ko ngayon. Di makakain kaya ang ginagawa ko, lagi na lang akong nagpapa-ospital, dextrose tapos 'yung malalambot na pagkain, 'yun ang kinakain ko," she relayed.
Currently, Ate Gay is undergoing immunotherapy and is on the road to recovery.
"Okay na po ngayon, nagi-immunotherapy ako po 12 times. Tatapusin lang po 'yun tapos hihintayin lang po kung anong susunod [na] sasabihin ng doctor," she said.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, immunotherapy for cancer "uses your body's immune system to find and destroy cancerous cells."
READ: Ate Gay rushed back to the hospital due to side effects of chemotherapy: ‘Di makakain dahil sa daming singaw’
On her prayer amid her health battle, she said: "Ang dasal ko... na tumagal pa ang buhay ko, na kailangan ko pang malibot ang buong mundo para magpasaya ng mga tao."
Despite the challenges, the comedian said her experience strengthened her faith in God. "Kumapit po ako sobra [sa Diyos]. Ibinigay ko na po ang aking kaluluwa sa Kanya, ang aking sarili, mapagaling lang po ako," she highlighted.