MANILA, Philippines - Known as one of the most successful models in the Philippines fashion scene, Tetta Ortiz-Matera began modelling at 15.

A self-professed fitness buff since 40, Tetta, now 46, is also a breast cancer advocate who espouses regular self-breast examination.

Model Tetta Ortiz-Matera on ANC's Headstart

"Mammograms are good, but they're not 100% accurate. The doctors will always tell you aside from mammograms, specially when you reach age 40, you have to do self-examination because no one else knows your body better than you," Matera said on ANC's "Headstart."

Tetta knows whereof she speaks, as she herself personally battles breast cancer and undergoes chemotherapy treatments.

Appearing on ANC's "Headstart," she showed off her beautifully shaped bald head and encouraged women with breast cancer to face their condition with grace.

"There's no shame in being bald. It's beautiful, liberating and makes you feel you're in control of your situation."

"You don't have to shut down, cocoon yourself to be depressed or hopeless, because once you let that in, half your battle is over."

Self-breast examination

Married to an Italian restaurateur and blessed with 2 children, Tetta was not always a candidate for serious illness, having gone for regular check-ups.

"My mother had it post0menopause in her late 70s. My doctor said: 'You're in no danger of having breast cancer."

In March, her mammogram showed she was clear of any danger signs.

But in May this year, during a regular self-breast examination, she felt a lump in her breast.

"My mammogram showed there were no suspicious growths, so I was very confident. Prior to that, I had a mammogram 6 months earlier. The doctor was saying I'm healthy, I'm fit, I don't have the background for it so I should be fine."

"I was very energetic, on the go all the time. It was just that manifestation of the lump, it came out of nowhere, overnight. I went to the doctor 5 days later and when she examined me, her first reaction was this was not here before. It's a bit suspicious."

Despite the absence of any pain, tests revealed she had several malignant lymph nodes. Doctors determined she had Stage-III A cancer.

"I was with my kids, we were holding hands listening to my husband talking to the doctor (over the phone), then he says, "You found five malignant lymph nodes." When I heard that, I thought, 'Can it get any worse?' and I started crying so hard, my kids started crying so hard. My son asked me: 'Mama, are you going to die?' I didn't know the answer. My daughter, who's a rock at 15 said: 'It's ok. She's going to overcome this. After that initial shock and all the crying that weekend, I decided, I'm going to beat this."

She dealt with her illness quietly at first, she later focused on the best treatment. She researched alternative medicine, and eventually focused on conventional treatment because it's been proven to work.

Conventional treatment

These days, Tetta is undergoing chemotherapy sessions.

"Cancer now is highly curable. All the medication the treatment is available in the Philippines."

Tetta admits, chemotherapy sessions have slowed her down somewhat, and she needs to pace herself with her gym sessions, adding she is also more cautious about going to public places so as not to compromise her immune system.

Confident in the prospects of conventional medicine, and finding strength in her faith and in the people who love her, Tetta chooses to fight on.

"Cancer is just a part of my life, but if I look at my whole life, there's so much more to be thankful for. There's so much more to live for."

"I made a decision in life to be strong. You choose to be happy, to be sad, to be healthy or to eat whatever gives you satisfaction, to be happy in your marriage."

"I believe in God and if I have faith then I will get thru this," Matera, a born-Again Christian, said. "I already believe in my heart, I'm cured."