💞 True friends are never apart maybe in distance but never in heart

It was one weekend afternoon during my medical leave, me with my husband and sonwere comfortably lying on the bed watching movie when my husband's phone rang. He was talking to someone then went out of the room.  I was supposed to follow him and confront who is he talking to but I also felt I need to restroom at the same time. So I intendedly ask him in a loud voice asking who was it then I proceed to the restroom instead. My intention was to be heard by whosoever was on the other line.
When I came back I ignored him already and go back to my son. Few minutes after, my husband was calling me to introduce to his friends. To my surprise, I saw one of my college friends in the terrace through the window and when I go out the other member of our "barkada" was there.
I was so touched that they made this effort to visit me considering they are from north (Tarlac, Bulacan, Rizal etc.) and I'm from down south Laguna. Some made a way even though they have kids to attend to and asked their parents to take good care for them even from a while. Others have appointment. The other one was supposed to have proposal since it waa his birthday the day after. The conspiracy they did with my husband to surprise added to my feeling of being special. We spent the rest of the day with laughters from old memories. For sometime, some were not able to attend happy days of my life but truly during these tough times they were there to cheer me up and remind me that I always have a friend in them. I may not be that lucky in other aspects of my life, it doesn't matter.  I have these treasure.

In the Eyes of my Niece

One fine afternoon, in the middle of my one month medical leave, I was collating my son's pictures to make album. My niece, Arwen, came to holding a paper fold into 4.  It was showing a drawing of me, my husband, baby zach, and herself. I smiled, kiss her, and say thank you.
She go out of my room then came back with another piece of paper. I asked her what does her drawing says, she said it was me during the time I was in the hospital and the two kids on the side is arwen and zach. I was getting teary already because all this time she's been very observant of what was done to me. She even drew a shower and a pool with a big X to specify that I was not allowed to take a bath. She used to be there when I was guided to the bathroom then.
This time, after she went out of the room, my tears fell. Then she came in again with another drawing. There was a bed-like salbabida.  I was sitting there floating in the pool. At the back of the paper are money drawings. She told me she would buy me one so my wound won't get hurt. Then the more tears fall from my eyes. I hug her tight.
Then another piece of paper with a drawing of me in tears and her handling her heart to me.
It was a simple gesture from a 6 yr old chile who truly touched my heart deeply.

Mother's Day 2016 @ Asian Hospital...Big Thanks...

Afar from the usual Mother's Day celebration, still I was in the hospital for recovery. This is my 2nd year to celebrate yet I don't have my son with me for the whole day.  Since visitors most specially kids are not allowed in my room due to radioactive exposure prior operation, only my husband plus the cheerful nurse assigned to me are my companion that day.

this made me smile...thank you...

My husband and I just finished our lunch date right beside hospital bed pretending we're in hotel. While we looked for movies to watch a Pastor came in. It was a Sunday, supposedly church day, yet I'm still confined in my hospital bed and not allowed to move, so he just said a short prayer and give me a Holy Communion.

Minutes after, Asian Hospital staff came in with some handicrafts. They have plain rattan bracelets and some color palette.  Those are for the mother patients within the hospital. It should be painted on the spot by anybody accompanying the patient. And so was done by my husband (even though he's not much into arts). :)

thank you dad...it's the thought that counts... :)

In early evening, finally, the staff removed the radioactive sign on the room and gave us go signal that visitors are allowed already. We live nearby Alabang so my in-laws were able to bring my son right after the go signal was given. Even for a moment I had my son with me on that day. This simple celebration means so much to me. Even though the event itself seems to be so simple, it means a lot.

This too shall pass...

Once the diagnosis was given, I half-heartedly accepted the need for operation.  I even want it to be done right away with fear that it may spread out to other parts of my body. The breast surgeon is willing to do so but she'll be out of the country days after and will only be back after a month. Since I prefer that only one surgeon be responsible with the operation, I decided to go on the next month. That period of waiting gave me chance to make myself stronger and firmer with the decision to proceed. We visit Padre Pio Church at Pasig and attend healing mass during the feast of St. Peregrine. As I kept on saying to myself, all for the love of my son and our young family.
I was asked to be at the Asian hospital 10am of Friday then. All my things are packed up for the admission. I was given instructions to work on for the admission.  The following are needed upon hospital admission:
1. Health Card (if you have insurance) - check your available balance ahead of time and make sure hospital and doctors are accredited so you could estimate if you'll be needing cash out. It will also be helpful if you ask your doctor estimated total package for such procedure
2. Members Data Record - optional nowadays unless not availabe on line
3. Certificate of Philhealth Contribution
4. Valid ID
5. SSS Sickness Form
After giving basic instructions from the admission, we were asked to sign on the agreement and lets us choose preferred room. We chose the Standard Private room just to give more allowance to unforseen expenses we might have during the stay. As well as car pass to avail of free parking.
I was admitted around 11am and was given instruction nothing per orem after 12am. At 11pm, I already have dextrose through IV.
Comes 4am the following day, I was picked up at the room and brought to Nuclear Medicine for Sentinel Node Biopsy. Only patients are allowed inside. Prior to that, we put ice on my breast to make it numb as there is no anesthesia to be used for this biopsy. I was placed in gamma room with a very narrow bed and locked my arms and feet. When the Nuc-Med doctor started to prick the needle that was near the nipple area, I was in tears due to pain. But after a while, it gets naive. Afterwhich, there was something moving towards the bed I was lying in, it seems like pressing me as it was only about an inch above my body. Probably they saw me being scared so they let me close my eyes. In just an hour, I was returned back in my room and was able to nap.
At 7am, I was brought to the operating room with my husband so that nurse could instruct him where to go if doctor requests his presence and if he needs to check on me. It was at the PACU.
When the operation proper was about to start, I was asked to state my full name and birthday. Then anesthesiologist introduced herself together my breast surgeon. Before I knew it, I was already unconscious and was waken up at the recovery.  It was already 1pm when I was brought back again in my room.  My throat hurts as a tube was place in it to reach the lungs. And of course, I only have a boob this time.  I can't move my right arm. While my left hand is still in dextrose.
My recovery took me 2 days and was discharged just in time for the National Election Day.  But since I need to rest, I was not able to exercise my right to vote.
The feeling is not as easy as what I thought but one thing for sure.  This too shall pass. My God is stronger than anything else.

Test of "LAB"

Here are the laboratory tests I have undergone before the big day happen. (This blog is not scientific, only stating my experience on my own words):

1. Ultrasound

*The moment I referred lumps to my ob-gyne, she requested ultrasound for it. It was not something to think twice about so I did it once.

At the Asian Breast Center, I laid down at the bed inside ultrasound room. The assistant cleaned the area with lumps and applied KY jelly.
Then came in the doctor who performed the ultrasound. She scanned the area guided with monitor.  She then asked for its history. I was looking at her face and seems something I can't tell. Since the request is on stat I waited for the result.
The result indicates the lump is malignant and on birads 1 to 6, 6 as cancer, it was on 4.b that's why I was referred to surgeon at once. Tissue correlation was highly recommended.

2. Mammogram
*This time the surgeon check the lump as how my OB did. It was awkward this time as he is a male doctor. He was thinking on doing the biopsy already but I was thinking twice and asked him if there are other options. He said we could do the mammogram first but he seems to be assured the still biopsy needs to be done.
Still believing biopsy is not needed, I did the mammogram. Normally, it was done to female above 40 that's why there are lots of question and answer again before the procedure. I was thinking it was scary at first as what I heard from the elders it's like squeezing your breast to the most.
When I get in the waiting area, I was aked to change lab gown same during the ultrasound. Then the nurse gave me overview on what will be done. She cleanse it again and said we are now high tech and no more tear jerking machine to be used. I stood up in front of a big clinical machine, it still needs to press my breast but it doesn't hurt.  It was just cold probably due to room temperature. Same result with Ultrasound as it was showing irregular dense mass measuring almost 4x3x3cm.
This procedure cost P 3,300 at Asian Hospital.

3. Core Biopsy Needle
*With biopsy, I asked oponions from multiple doctors and yet all of them were suggesting Core Biopsy Needle. Since this is not availabe in all hospital, I decided to go back at Asian Hospital after 3 months. At first, she was saying to check first if the lump shrink or may not need biopsy. But unfortunately it grew bigger. She explained yo me that if we'll ignore it more. The more it might cause health issues considering my age and my young family. So I was convinced to agree with the procedure.
The following are needed prior the said biopsy:
•Members Data Record
•Certificate of Contribution from Philhealth
•Request from doctor
•All other lab results
At the day of biopsy process, I was again asked to wear the lab gown and proceed at biopsy room this time. Again it was cleansed then they cover part of my body showing only the breast. I am awake but with anesthesia. I heard 5 shots as the doctor is explaining she needs that much to check more or less all the lump area.  It was guided with monitor so I can see what she's doing inside. Then she requested for formalin. I heard their conversation whether it sink or float but was not able to hear tbe answer. The operation last for 30 minutes but 2 hours of recovery. My breast was fully covered with gauze and was advised to tighten the bra though when it was removed it just show a ballpen tip at the area of biopsy done.  I was limited to carry on heavy items.
The result was released after 2 weeks as the week that follows biopsy is Holy Week. It prolong the agony but gave me ample time to pray more. I do have some worries because when I asked the assistant nurse if any of the samples sink, she said it was mixed.  I research on it that if the sample float in formalin then it was just fatty tissue but if it sink, it will be disgnose.
And upon explaining to me the result, it was stage 0 CA, ductal carcinoma in situ. And a mastectomy is highly recommended.
This procedure costs P 19,572 still at Asian.

4. Cardio Clearance
*Having no choice but to follow doctor's recommendation, I worked on the other requirrments. And one of those is the Cardio Clearance.
I had it done at Healthway Festival Mall issued by an Asian Cardio doctor. Before the clearance was issued, the following were performed:
• Chest Imaging
• Electrcardigram (ECG)
• Hematology
• Blood Chemistry
• Immunology
All this cost P 3,ooo at Healthway plus P 1,100 for the Medical Certificate for cardio clearance.

Unforseen battle to be fought...

As I write this blog, I am on my 2nd week medical leave due to an operation performed last May 7.

Everything started when a lump on my right breast was detected by my husband.  It was May of 2015. I ignored it even when the doctor highlighted it during the corporate annual exam.  I thought warm compress will do so.

Come October of the same year, a yellow-reddish stained my white shirt due to discharge coming from that side of my breast.  That's when I asked my OB about it. She requested for ultrasound right away and referred me to general surgeon after reading the result.

With nervous feeling, I followed her instructions.  The surgeon she referred to is a man and I'm no comfortable with the situation then though he requested for mammogram and biopsy.  I only followed doing the mammogram even with doubt since I'm still below 40. But the biopsy was a BIG NO. I told myself to consult my mom and/or another doctor.

My sister has a friend from Asian hospital who referred us to a breast surgeon, and so the 2nd opinion goes.  She too asked for biopsy.  Still, with half-hearted I followed the advice. But then, I lack some documents needed for the said biopsy. So I told myself it's a sign not to continue with the procedure.

I let months passed by, in February of this year, I felt tingling sensation on my right breast once in a while. So I asked around and a nurse friend refers me to her surgeon who has done cysts biopsy from her breast. This is my 3rd opinion. I was in shock but still composed when the doctor told me that in his opinion it is already cancer and if he do the biopsy it will immediately be followed by mastectomy and chemotheraphy. It scares me a bit but still looked for something more to convince me on starting biopsy.  Until a nurse friend from US ready ultrasound and mammogram result and told me the case is already alarming.

That's when I go back to the 2nd surgeon comsidering she's a  she and breast surgery is her specialty. We did the core needle biopsy and so the result was Ductal Carcinoma In Situ whivh requires mastectomy.

I knew it. This is the start of a battle a hate to be in but needs to fight. My inner senses is strong enough to lift me up and say I can survive this. I will. And I can.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dcis/basics/definition/con-20031842