Not so many information about cancer patients and their experiences with chemotherapy treatment in the Philippines, are available online. You can find case studies of cancer patients online but chances are they belong to foreign patients.Through this post, I wish to share personal stories of two family members - one underwent chemotherapy treatment for lymphoma and another family member currently undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer.
My maternal aunt was the first one who was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2006. She has yet to be declared in complete remission until now.
My aunt (with my daughter) before cancer
The Sign
It’s been months since I last saw my 64-year-old aunt, Tita Saning. I really missed her. Although we're both living in Quezon City, I rarely visit her in her house, the same place I grew up in, since I became busy with family life. I guess she’s happy to see me last Sunday as I see it in her eyes. She is frail, but her hair is a lot thicker now unlike when she was undergoing chemotherapy. She used to have a healthy body, not fat, but heavier than her present weight. She barely weighs 100 pounds. I treat her like my own mother and seeing her made me really happy.
In the middle part of 2006, Tita Saning became sickly and began to lose weight. She gets cough and cold almost every month and my cousins notice a growing lump in her neck. Tita’s family never realized those signs were already warning signals of a serious health condition.
When she was taken to St. Luke's Medical Center for checkup, the doctor who saw my aunt advised her to undergo biopsy. Tita said a needle was initially inserted to the lump to remove a tissue sample. It was done without anesthesia so she felt the painful procedure.
After the needle biopsy, doctors have ordered the removal of her lump. The procedure was called open biopsy.
Painful Revelation
Everyone was praying then that the disease would not be as dreaded as cancer. Although the result showed Tita has lymphoma, we were relieved that it was in the initial stage of development and the chance of being cured is high. My aunt’s family including her diabetic husband and their two adult children are hopeful that Tita will get well with the proper and immediate medical intervention.
Based on research, Stage I lymphoma means "the disease is present in only one group of lymph nodes, or, more rarely, in a single organ that does not belong to the lymph system". It can be cured by chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy treatment is the simple administration of drug into the blood that kills that tumor cell.
My aunt tries to hold back her tears as she slowly recalls her experience from day one.
“I cried when my daughter told me I have cancer. I couldn’t accept the fact that I will be leaving my grandchildren. Who will take care of them when I’m gone?” she said in the vernacular.
“It’s difficult for me physically and emotionally when I know I have to stay in bed after the treatment and no one will cook and take care of my family,” she added.
Tita Saning hasn't change, she is the typical caring aunt that I know who despite her condition still worries about the welfare of her family.
My aunt and cousin Cez
Chemotherapy Treatment
Tita Saning’s treatment started after her biopsy test. She was given
Mabthera through slow infusion into a vein or intravenous infusion. Each session lasts for three hours.
She is currently taking a maintenance medicine called B.P. NORM 10mg once daily for her blood pressure, and Vitamin C to boost her immune system.
My aunt completed six sessions of chemotherapy treatment given every three weeks from July to October 2006. And another four sessions every three months for one year. Each chemo treatment costs a whooping P100,000.
They are not financially well-off, in fact Tita only earns from repacking charcoal and selling processed meat. But her family was able to support her chemo treatment. Thanks to her daughter who happens to be working at St. Luke's. Cez shoulders half of the expenses through salary deduction. Also, they were able to secure a guarantee letter from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) pledging the amount of P800,000.
Side Effects
Unlike other chemo patients, my aunt was spared from the “nightmarish” side effects of chemotherapy such as dizzy spells, nausea and vomiting. Besides losing her hair in the course of treatment, she said she only have to deal with her forgetfulness which she pointed to the chemo medicine as the culprit. Other than that she doesn’t feel anything awful after each treatment.
She stays indoors for 10 days while wearing facial mask to protect her from acquiring infections that will weaken her defenses against cancer cells. She also wears bandana to cover her thinning hairline.
She also underwent CT scan after the full cycle of her chemo treatment to see how she has responded to the treatment.
Cancer runs in the family
Ironically, my cousin Cez, who is doing all she can to support her sick mother, is also undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. She was diagnosed last year and underwent mastectomy to remove the affected breast. From the initial stage of treatment, my cousin said she has lost her appetite and could only tolerate soft food diet.
Despite what happened to her and her family, I never see a trace of sadness in her eyes. My cousin said she has come to terms with her fate. “I cried it out and leave my fate up to God,” she said.
Early detection and treatment
Tita Saning is thankful that her condition has been detected in its early stage. The doctor attending to both mother and daughter has been very helpful to explain to them all the information that they need to know about their illness.
Meantime, I would like to share some information pertinent to this post. I was able to interview Dr. Gracieux Fernando of the Philippine Society of Medical Oncology in the past and she talked about cancer detection and treatment.
She said majority of cancer patients in the Philippines learn about their condition in later stage of the disease so that treatment becomes costly.
For his part, Dr. Alan Paul Olavere, of the Chemotherapy Unit of the Medical City Hospital, said 50 percent of expenses incurred for cancer treatment go to chemotherapy alone.
Chemotherapy is the simple administration of drug into the blood that kills the tumor cell.
Aside from early detection and diagnosis, Fernando stressed the importance of patient empowerment.
“Patients should be taught to become active partners in treatment decision making. This means that patient should talk to his doctor, learn to ask questions. Doctors are presenting the treatment options and let the patients choose what kind treatment that suits his financial capability,” Fernando told the author in a previous interview.
Fernando also urges fellow oncologists to recommend generic medicines to their patients to decrease cost of treatment and explore other options like putting the patients under drug trials.
“Be sure that you get your money’s worth as possible. Make sure that the doctor is open to open dialogue because like everyone at the end we are not here to tell you what treatment you need we are here to propose options. It is up to you to select. We really advocate second up to fourth opinion,” he said.
Prevention
The World Health Organization noted that one-third of cancers (all types) are preventable, one-third is curable and one-third depends on palliative care.
“The best way to cure cancer is prevention. How do you do it? Have a healthy lifestyle – no carcinogen like tobacco smoke, eat the right food – vegetables and fruits,” said Olavere.
“Also, try to have an annual checkup even if you don’t feel anything, you can detect the possibility of cancer.”
Learning from their experience, my aunt and cousin, share the same advice for those who suspect they have cancer: “If you suspect something in your body, seek medical help. This way, any abnormality can be detected and treated early.”
My aunt ended the interview by leaving a word of advice for those undergoing chemotherapy treatment, "never lose your faith and pray for miracle healing".
Tita is scheduled to undergo a CT scan on April 15 to determine if cancer has come back or if it has spread to other organs.
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