Marggie
My Story is about My brother
This event took place from 02/18/2018 to 10/22/2025
The Discovery
He had back pain. Computed Axial Tomography was done.
This is My Story
The Impact of Time
In February 2018, my brother José Enrique Rojas Herrera, journalist, partner, and founder of ACOPODI, received at the age of 43 a diagnosis that would change his life and the lives of everyone around him: mucinous adenocarcinoma of the pancreas, stage IV. From his very first medical consultation, he learned that the cancer had already spread to his lungs, liver, and lymph nodes. The difficult news came through a computed axial tomography scan.
For one year and two months, José Enrique faced his illness surrounded by family and friends, walking together through a path marked by uncertainty, fear, and hope. Despite the adversity, his visionary spirit remained unshaken. In the midst of his struggle, a dream was born: to transform his experience into an opportunity to help others.
That is how ACOPODI, the Costa Rican Association for the Prevention of Digestive Cancer, came to life. José Enrique longed to raise awareness among citizens, helping people identify their risk factors, guiding and educating them to adopt healthy lifestyle habits. His purpose was clear: to encourage people to consult a doctor in time, undergo preventive check-ups, and thus increase the chances of early diagnosis — with the hope that healing could become a real possibility.
With this vision in mind, on September 2, 2018, a group of family members and friends joined efforts to found the association, with José Enrique leading the project and his sister assuming the presidency of the organization.
From the very beginning, ACOPODI began working actively through in-person and virtual conferences and workshops led by experts in digestive health, stress management, digestive oncology, and other related topics. At the same time, an extensive awareness campaign through social media was launched, sharing reliable scientific information and alerting the public about warning signs and risk factors associated with different types of digestive cancers: esophageal, liver, stomach, pancreatic, biliary, and colorectal cancer.
In 2023, a new initiative emerged: to design a community-based outreach strategy that would allow volunteers to visit communities directly and educate the population on digestive health topics. Motivated by this vision, the president of ACOPODI took on the task of researching successful, evidence-based international strategies that could be adapted to the national reality and generate a positive impact on Costa Rican society.
As a result of this research and collaborative planning, in December 2023, ACOPODI launched the “Healthy Routes” Educational Program, an innovative community education tool. This program aims to identify risk factors, provide accessible scientific information, and promote the prevention of cancers in the gastrointestinal system across different regions of the country.
As part of this initiative, educational seminars and abdominal ultrasound sessions are also carried out, further strengthening ACOPODI’s commitment to early detection, health education, and the hope for a healthier life for all.
