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South China Morning Post

How wellness retreat helps Filipino influencer cope with Sjogren's syndrome

Popular Filipino influencer Pinky Tobiano recognised that, after years of struggling with Sjogren's syndrome, she needed help to reset her mind and body. Advertisement At the age of 40, she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. She beat the disease, but the prolonged radiation therapy to treat the cancer led to her developing Sjogren's, a little-known chronic autoimmune condition in which the body's immune system attacks the moisture-producing glands, primarily in the eyes and mouth. 'Living with Sjogren's syndrome is difficult,' shares Tobiano, now 55 and in Manila in the Philippines. She is a chemist by training and an entrepreneur with more than 4.3 million followers on her Instagram account, @pinkytobiano. 'I have no saliva or tears, so I have trouble swallowing food,' she says. 'Just eating is painful and exhausting.' Pinky Tobiano has more than 4.3 million followers on her Instagram account. Photo: Instagram/pinkytobiano Other symptoms have worsened over time.