Seeking help from the Philippines

[Guest guest]

I am Dang of Metro Manila, Philippines. My mother has been recently diagnosed

with breast cancer stage 3 after undergoing 2 surgeries within a month. Tomorrow

we are going to talk with her doctor, who will explain to us why she needs chemo

and radiation in addition to her Tamoxifen pills. I am so afraid of what the

future is in store for us. Basically, I want my mother to live longer even just

a few more years. She is 67 years old and I am afraid of what the chemo and

radiation will do to her. In my researches on the net, I have encountered

stories of deaths after the first chemo. Is this really true.

I really want to get in touch with Breast CA survivors and relatives to advise

me first hand of what to expect, despite knowing that each case is unique. I

feel like time is running after me. It's like a time bomb. I have not had any

time to cry despite the feeling of anxiety and overwhelming fear. I am afraid of

the limited availability of medicines here in the Philippines. I want to be

reassured that there is really hope that my mother will not die in the near

future. This anxiety of not being assured of a pain free treatment is compounded

by our tight financial status. All the medical expenses from the surgeries and

her hypertension, hypertension, is making my finances very thin. I am afraid of

the possibility that I may not be able to afford the medical bills.

Please help me. Thanks.

Dang

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Dang,

I have never heard of anyone dying after the first chemo treatment. Actually I

have never heard of anyone dying from chemo.

I had my surgery May 24, 1990. I was Stage II, Grade II, 2.5 cm tumor, one lymph

node involved. I had 6 mo (12 treatmetns) of chemo, no radiation or

reconsturction. There are ladies in the group that are longer survivors than I

am.

Could you possibly ask your hospital or oncologist what kind of help would be

available for you Mom? In the US if someone doesn't have insurance to cover

expenses they can apply for Medicaid. If they don't work, do not have much money

they are accepted. Also some hospitals here you are able to pay a smaill amount

of the bill monthly. I will keep you both in my prayers.

Hugs

nne

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Seeking help from the Philippines

I am Dang of Metro Manila, Philippines. My mother has been recently diagnosed

with breast cancer stage 3 after undergoing 2 surgeries within a month. Tomorrow

we are going to talk with her doctor, who will explain to us why she needs chemo

and radiation in addition to her Tamoxifen pills. I am so afraid of what the

future is in store for us. Basically, I want my mother to live longer even just

a few more years. She is 67 years old and I am afraid of what the chemo and

radiation will do to her. In my researches on the net, I have encountered

stories of deaths after the first chemo. Is this really true.

I really want to get in touch with Breast CA survivors and relatives to advise

me first hand of what to expect, despite knowing that each case is unique. I

feel like time is running after me. It's like a time bomb. I have not had any

time to cry despite the feeling of anxiety and overwhelming fear. I am afraid of

the limited availability of medicines here in the Philippines. I want to be

reassured that there is really hope that my mother will not die in the near

future. This anxiety of not being assured of a pain free treatment is compounded

by our tight financial status. All the medical expenses from the surgeries and

her hypertension, hypertension, is making my finances very thin. I am afraid of

the possibility that I may not be able to afford the medical bills.

Please help me. Thanks.

Dang

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Dang - It's hard to speak about the differences in treatment of the

United States and the Philippines, because I don't know enough about

it. What I do know is that I have never heard of anyone dying

because of a chemo treatment and I do know that your Mother is still

relatively young (67) and, from the sounds of her diagnosis, in need

of chemo and radiation and anything else that can be provided to

her. I understand your role in this, being her daughter and wanting

more time with her, being scared for both her and yourself, having

financial concerns on top of that must be overwhelming. My advice

would be to try and see, as nne suggested, if you can get

financial support from a hospital or clinic to aleviate those

worries. There must be funds available on a national level and

maybe someone here can speak to that.

What we can tell you, as a group, is that your Mom's chances of

surviving her Breast Cancer are good now - better than they have

been ever before and that you can help her by remaining positive,

proactive, aggressive in advocacy for her health and standing beside

her - just as we stand beside each other here.

I wish you the best of luck with this journey. This is a great

group of women with years of first-hand experience. Use this group

as a resource for emotional support and treatment questions for your

Mom. I applaud you for your dedication to her - stay strong!

Hugs!

Ellen

>

> I am Dang of Metro Manila, Philippines. My mother has been

recently diagnosed with breast cancer stage 3 after undergoing 2

surgeries within a month. Tomorrow we are going to talk with her

doctor, who will explain to us why she needs chemo and radiation in

addition to her Tamoxifen pills. I am so afraid of what the future

is in store for us. Basically, I want my mother to live longer even

just a few more years. She is 67 years old and I am afraid of what

the chemo and radiation will do to her. In my researches on the net,

I have encountered stories of deaths after the first chemo. Is this

really true.

>

> I really want to get in touch with Breast CA survivors and

relatives to advise me first hand of what to expect, despite knowing

that each case is unique. I feel like time is running after me. It's

like a time bomb. I have not had any time to cry despite the feeling

of anxiety and overwhelming fear. I am afraid of the limited

availability of medicines here in the Philippines. I want to be

reassured that there is really hope that my mother will not die in

the near future. This anxiety of not being assured of a pain free

treatment is compounded by our tight financial status. All the

medical expenses from the surgeries and her hypertension,

hypertension, is making my finances very thin. I am afraid of the

possibility that I may not be able to afford the medical bills.

>

> Please help me. Thanks.

>

> Dang

>

> __________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Ellen and nne,

Reading your mails got my head running. I needed that

reassurance. I was talking to my mother this morning

(our visit to the doctor was moved to Thursday) and

she was afraid yet hopeful. I put up a happy face and

told her that we will be shopping for caps and scarves

in the weekend and that did it! She was already

chattering away and excited for the trip to the mall.

I always knew deep inside you were right. I will be

checking on the hospitals and organizations that may

help alleviate the medical bills ahead.

Thank you very much. Last night, for the first time, I

was not praying for myself and my mom. I was also

praying for all the women out there having the same

fate as my mom.

God bless sisters,

Dang

--- Ellen emc_mom4@...> wrote:

> Dang - It's hard to speak about the differences in

> treatment of the

> United States and the Philippines, because I don't

> know enough about

> it. What I do know is that I have never heard of

> anyone dying

> because of a chemo treatment and I do know that your

> Mother is still

> relatively young (67) and, from the sounds of her

> diagnosis, in need

> of chemo and radiation and anything else that can be

> provided to

> her. I understand your role in this, being her

> daughter and wanting

> more time with her, being scared for both her and

> yourself, having

> financial concerns on top of that must be

> overwhelming. My advice

> would be to try and see, as nne suggested, if

> you can get

> financial support from a hospital or clinic to

> aleviate those

> worries. There must be funds available on a

> national level and

> maybe someone here can speak to that.

>

> What we can tell you, as a group, is that your Mom's

> chances of

> surviving her Breast Cancer are good now - better

> than they have

> been ever before and that you can help her by

> remaining positive,

> proactive, aggressive in advocacy for her health and

> standing beside

> her - just as we stand beside each other here.

>

> I wish you the best of luck with this journey. This

> is a great

> group of women with years of first-hand experience.

> Use this group

> as a resource for emotional support and treatment

> questions for your

> Mom. I applaud you for your dedication to her -

> stay strong!

>

> Hugs!

> Ellen

> >

> > I am Dang of Metro Manila, Philippines. My mother

> has been

> recently diagnosed with breast cancer stage 3 after

> undergoing 2

> surgeries within a month. Tomorrow we are going to

> talk with her

> doctor, who will explain to us why she needs chemo

> and radiation in

> addition to her Tamoxifen pills. I am so afraid of

> what the future

> is in store for us. Basically, I want my mother to

> live longer even

> just a few more years. She is 67 years old and I am

> afraid of what

> the chemo and radiation will do to her. In my

> researches on the net,

> I have encountered stories of deaths after the first

> chemo. Is this

> really true.

> >

> > I really want to get in touch with Breast CA

> survivors and

> relatives to advise me first hand of what to expect,

> despite knowing

> that each case is unique. I feel like time is

> running after me. It's

> like a time bomb. I have not had any time to cry

> despite the feeling

> of anxiety and overwhelming fear. I am afraid of the

> limited

> availability of medicines here in the Philippines. I

> want to be

> reassured that there is really hope that my mother

> will not die in

> the near future. This anxiety of not being assured

> of a pain free

> treatment is compounded by our tight financial

> status. All the

> medical expenses from the surgeries and her

> hypertension,

> hypertension, is making my finances very thin. I am

> afraid of the

> possibility that I may not be able to afford the

> medical bills.

> >

> > Please help me. Thanks.

> >

> > Dang

> >

> >

> __________________________________________________

> >