In September 2025, I was invited to the premiere of Sacar Pecho: De viaje con el miedo (Standing Tall: The Journey With Fear) at the Teatre Principal de Palma, a deeply moving breast cancer documentary filmed here in Mallorca. This film features eight women diagnosed with breast cancer, sharing their stories, fears, and triumphs.
The experience carried extra weight for me, because one of the protagonists, Sheriellane Pascua, is the Filipino wife of my late father’s caregiver. They both cared for my father tenderly for the last few years of his life. Seeing Sheriellane on screen, speaking of her experiences, was beautiful, powerful and deeply emotive.
What is the Sacar Pecho documentary about?
Sacar Pecho, directed by Rubén Capilla and Álex Rodríguez and produced by Vivirdelcuento Comunicació, competed for the Balearic Talent Award at the Atlàntida Mallorca Film Fest in July 2025. More than just a film, it’s a piece of cinematic medicine for anyone who has heard the words, “You have breast cancer.” Its goal is to humanise medicine, raise awareness, and offer solidarity to those facing this disease.
The film follows Ana, Mari Pau, Joana, Bel, Mar, Eva, Sheriellane, and Leire, women from very different backgrounds united by one shared journey. Their path spans the rugged beauty of Mallorca’s Serra de Tramuntana, taking them along the GR221 from Pollensa to Andratx over several days. More than hiking, more than camaraderie, the journey becomes a metaphor for the inner landscape of confronting fear, pain, and uncertainty.
Breast cancer in Mallorca: the women behind the numbers
Oncologist Dr Antònia Perelló shared how the protagonists open their hearts about the moment of diagnosis, the fear, the support, the setbacks and the rallies. The film reminds us that breast cancer is one of the most common health issues affecting women: in the Balearic Islands, there are around 800 to 850 diagnoses a year; in Spain, 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed in their lifetime.
President Llorenç Galmés from the Consell de Mallorca described it as “the clear and courageous voice of women who reveal pain but also strength, life, dignity.” It underscores values that matter deeply: transparency in medicine, emotional authenticity, and the healing power of nature, friendship and movement.
Innovations and hope in breast cancer treatment
Hearing these stories, especially Sheriellane’s, diagnosed at just 27 and living with recurrence, reminded me how ruthless breast cancer can be. It also reminded me, thankfully, of the remarkable progress in treatment. Cutting-edge advances such as hormone therapies, immunotherapies, and personalised medicine (guided by genetic and molecular profiling) are making care more effective while reducing side effects. Survival rates for early-stage breast cancer are now over 90% at five years, thanks to earlier detection, improved imaging, and systemic therapies. These advances mean breast cancer is increasingly seen not just as a battle to endure, but as a challenge that many overcome and live beyond, with quality, purpose, and hope.
Sheriellane’s story: from patient to thriver
Sheriellane’s presence in the documentary touched me deeply, but her own words capture her journey best: “I was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 at the age of 27 while living in Norway. When I later moved to Mallorca to join my fiancé, I suffered a relapse in 2018 when it metastasized into my bone, particularly my sternum. I began treatment through the Spanish national health system, which was so incredible. I shudder to think what might have happened had I still been living in the Philippines.
I was also blessed with support by what I firmly believe was divine intervention, from an integrative medical centre, Cell Medicum, where I received therapies to boost my immune system between chemotherapy sessions. This helped me regain enough vitality to find a job while applying for Spanish residency, something for which I will be eternally grateful.
Now, 10 years on at 37, I’m not just surviving but thriving. My journey has been about resilience, finding strength in vulnerability, and proving that life can still be full of purpose and joy, despite the challenges.”
She adds: “My story isn’t about fighting cancer, it’s about living fully with it. Cancer didn’t take away my dreams, it gave me a louder voice to remind others: don’t wait for life to be perfect to celebrate it. Many people feel silenced by illness. I chose to speak up, through this documentary, social media, and writing, turning what could have been private suffering into public empowerment.”
“Cancer didn’t take away my dreams, it gave me a louder voice to remind others: don’t wait for life to be perfect to celebrate it.”Sheriellane Pascua
Walking the Serra de Tramuntana
Her most moving words came when she reflected on walking in the Serra de Tramuntana with the other women: “I felt an incredible mix of peace and power. Surrounded by the striking beauty of nature and sisterhood, it was as if the mountains carried our pain but also amplified our strength. In that moment, I wasn’t just a cancer patient; I was a thriver, walking with hope, resilience, and connection.”
I was immensely proud of Sheriellane. Her courage at such a young age, her vulnerability and resilience, are inspiring.
Where can you watch Sacar Pecho?
Since the premiere, Sacar Pecho has travelled far beyond the island. After the screenings in Palma and Inca, the plan was to make it available to public hospitals in the Balearic Islands through the SOLTI Foundation and the AECC (the Spanish Association Against Cancer). It was shortlisted for the Goya Awards for best documentary and presented at Spain’s Congress of Deputies in October 2025. In September 2026, it reached the European Parliament in Brussels, where six of the women, Sheriellane among them, spoke to European lawmakers about what the illness has meant in their lives.
There is still hope it will reach other platforms, with English subtitles, so it can inspire an even wider audience.
Why Sacar Pecho matters
“It was as if the mountains carried our pain but also amplified our strength.”Sheriellane Pascua
Sacar Pecho is more than a documentary: it’s a rallying cry, a comfort, a lifeline. It shows that a diagnosis doesn’t mean surrender; there is community, there is nature, there is movement; and above all, there is hope.
To any woman reading this who is on this journey, or knows someone who is: you are not alone. The path may be rugged, but it is possible to stand tall, to heal, and to live, and live well. Because with each year of medical innovation, each shared story, and each act of compassion, we move closer toward a future not just of surviving, but of thriving. Let its message of strength, awareness, and healing ripple far and wide.
If you have a wellness story you would like to share, message Amanda on Instagram @amandabmallorca and follow her for all things wellness in Mallorca.
Key Takeaways
- Sacar Pecho follows eight women with breast cancer on a multi-day walk along the GR221 through Mallorca’s Serra de Tramuntana.
- Around 800 to 850 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in the Balearic Islands each year, and 1 in 8 women in Spain will be diagnosed in their lifetime.
- Survival for early-stage breast cancer is now over 90% at five years, thanks to earlier detection and better treatment.
- Sheriellane’s story shows that life after a diagnosis can still hold purpose, joy and connection.
- Nature, friendship and movement sit at the heart of the film’s message of hope.
Has a film or a real story ever shifted how you think about strength? I would love to hear which one stayed with you, so do share it in the comments below.
Read & add your comment ↓Further Inspiration:
Oncology Massage in Palma · A Journey of Healing · Finding Strength in Vulnerability · The Art of Becoming
As featured in the Mallorca Bulletin
This article first appeared in Amanda’s Wellness Column in the Mallorca Bulletin on 26 September 2025. Read the original as a PDF →
Sources and Further Reading
- El Principal estrena ‘Sacar pecho’, un documental con 8 diagnosticadas de cáncer de mama rodado en Mallorca. Mallorcadiario, 2025.
- Sacar Pecho: un documental que transforma el miedo en un grito de vida en Mallorca. Mallorcadiario, 2025.
- Sacar Pecho: film page and synopsis. CineCiutat, 2025.
- El documental Sacar pecho, cofinanciado por el Consell, llega al Congreso. Última Hora, 2025.
- Mallorca breast cancer film brings six to Brussels. Mallorca.com, 2026.
- Impacto del cáncer en las Illes Balears. Observatorio del Cáncer, AECC, 2023.
- El programa de cribado de Baleares detecta el 18% de los casos de cáncer de mama en mujeres mayores de 50 años. Última Hora, 2025.
- La SEOM destaca los avances en el cáncer de mama. Diario Estrategia, 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Sacar Pecho documentary about?
Sacar Pecho is a documentary filmed in Mallorca that follows eight women diagnosed with breast cancer on a multi-day walk along the GR221 through the Serra de Tramuntana, sharing their fears, setbacks and strength along the way.
Who made Sacar Pecho?
It was directed by Rubén Capilla and Álex Rodríguez and produced by Vivirdelcuento Comunicació, with the medical team from Mallorca’s hospital breast units and the participation of the SOLTI Foundation.
Where can I watch Sacar Pecho?
It premiered at the Teatre Principal de Palma in 2025 and has been screened at the Atlàntida Mallorca Film Fest, in Inca, at Spain’s Congress of Deputies and at the European Parliament. Further public screenings had not been confirmed at the time of writing.
Is Sacar Pecho available with English subtitles?
The film is in Spanish and Mallorcan. At the time of writing there was hope of a release on other platforms with English subtitles, but this had not been confirmed.
How common is breast cancer in the Balearic Islands?
Around 800 to 850 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in the Balearic Islands each year, and in Spain 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed in their lifetime.
What is the survival rate for early-stage breast cancer?
In Spain, survival for early-stage breast cancer is now over 90% at five years, thanks to earlier detection, better imaging and modern treatments.
How can nature support wellbeing during illness?
The film shows walking in nature, friendship and gentle movement as sources of strength. Mallorca’s Serra de Tramuntana, a UNESCO World Heritage landscape, offers trails of every level, and time outdoors with others can ease stress and loneliness. Anyone in treatment should check with their medical team before a demanding walk.
0 Comments